TACIJUS 

HISTORIES 

I  — II 

MOORE 


LIBRARY 

UNtVSftSJTY  Of 


.       SAN  OIEGO 


MACMILLAN'S   LATIN    CLASSICS 

EDITED  BY  JAMES  C.   EGBERT,  PH.D. 
Professor  of  Latin,  Columbia  University 


THE   HISTORIES    OF   TACITUS 
BOOKS  I  AND  II 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

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TORONTO 


THE  HISTORIES  OF  TACITUS 

BOOKS  I  AND  II 


FRANK   GARDNER   MOORE 

PROFESSOR    OF   CLASSICAL    PHILOLOGY   IN    COLUMBIA 
UNIVERSITY 


fforfe 
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1910 

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BY  THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY. 


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ERRATA 

PAGE 

xxvii  med. :  Pauly-Wissowa,  the  fourth  volume  is  meant. 

10,  1.  11:  for  legiones  read  legione,  (comma). 

17,  c.  30,  1.  1:  read  Nihil  adrogabo. 

26,  c.  47,  1.  6 :  for  promiscue  read  promisee. 

29, 1.  6-7,  end:  transpose  hyphen  and  period. 

32,  1.  3 :  for  et  read  ac. 

41,  1.  11 :  for  nunito  read  nuntio. 

54,  c.  4, 1.  3 :  for  consulit  read  consuluit. 

65,  c.  23,  1.  12:  for  Marcius  read  Martius. 

76,  1.  1 :  transfer  the  first  syllable  to  end  of  line  (acriter  .  .  . 

inpeditos). 

110,  c.  2,  1.  8 :  semicolon  should  follow  parenthesis. 
116,  1.  11 :  for  35  read  40. 
118,  c.  11,  1.  7:  for  praefect  read  prefect. 
123,  1.  25 :  transpose  the  names  of  Gains  and  Lucius,  to  read 

Lucius  in  2  A.D.,  etc. 
143,  c.  47,  1.  9 :  insert  as  follows  :  —  promisee :  for  this  rare 

form  cf .  on  84  promised ;  2,  49,  69 ;  but  1,  66  pro- 

miscuis. 

157,  c.  65,  1.  1 :  read  below  Lyons,  on  the  Rhone. 

158,  1.  1-2:  for  left  bank  read  left  bank  of  the  Rhone. 
172,  1.  18 :  add  :  —  cf .  47  promisee. 

176,  c.  88,  11.  3  and  15 :  for  proc.  read  procos. 

183,  1.  13 :  omit  the  dots  (...). 

190,  c.  17,  1.  3 :  for  i  read  it. 

212,  1.  2 :  for  this  read  the. 

217,  last  word:  for  audito  read  auditu. 

241,  c.  93,  1.  6 :  for  principal  read  principia. 


VXORI  •  DlLECTISSIMAE 


PREFACE 

THE  text  of  this  edition  differs  from  that  of  Halm  in  the 
passages  enumerated  in  a  brief  appendix.  In  perhaps  a 
third  of  these  cases  more  recent  study  of  the  Medici  codex, 
in  particular  by  Andresen,  has  restored  the  readings  of  that 
Ms.  to  favor.  The  editor  is  under  the  greatest  obligations 
also  to  Carl  and  Wilhelm  Heraeus,  Meiser,  Wolff,  Valmaggi, 
Nipperdey,  Draeger,  Fabia's  Onomasticon,  Gerber  and  Greef, 
and  the  Prosopogmphia.  Narrow  limits  have  been  imposed 
by  the  plan  of  the  series,  with  its  emphasis  upon  the  needs 
of  younger  students.  The  aim  has  been  to  introduce  the 
reader  with  the  least  possible  formality  to  the  leading  features 
of  Tacitus'  style,  by  presenting  his  more  striking  modes  of 
expression,  not  as  grammatical  curiosities,  to  be  viewed  with 
indifference  through  the  dusty  glass  of  a  museum  case,  but 
as  highly  specialized  tools,  shaped  for  his  own  use  by  the 
master- workman. 

TRINITY  COLLEGE,  HARTFORD 
28  June,  1910 


vii 


CONTENTS 


INTRODUCTION 

PAGE 

I.     The  Life  of  Tacitus       

ix 

II.     The  Works  of  Tacitus  

X 

III.    The  Style  of  Tacitus     

xii 

IV.     Tacitus  and  his  Literary  Critics    .... 

.  xxiii 

V.    The  Text  of  the  Histories     .        . 

.      XXV 

VI.     Brief  Bibliography        

.  xxvi 

TEXT 

Book  I   

1 

Book  II           

63 

NOTES 

Book  I    

109 

Book  II           

179 

APPENDIX 247 


vili 


INTRODUCTION 

I.    THE  LIFE  OF  TACITUS 

1.  A  life  of  Tacitus  reduces  itself  to  a  handful  of  facts, 
gathered  from  his  own  works,  and  the  letters  of  his  friend, 
the  Younger  Pliny,  supplemented  by  a  single  inscription 
of  recent  discovery  in  Asia  Minor.     As  Tacitus  and  Pliny 
were  propemodum  aequales,1  yet  with  an  interval  which 
allowed  the  future  historian  to  gain  fame  as  an  orator, 
while  his  friend  was  still  an  adulescentulus,2  and  as  Pliny 
was  born  in  61-62,3  we  may  infer  that  Tacitus  was  born 
54-55,  at  the  end  of  Claudius'  reign,  or  near  the  begin- 
ning of  that  of  Nero.     He  was  probably  born  in  North 
Italy,  certainly  not  at  Rome,  for  a  stranger  at  the  circus 
once  asked  him,  Italicus  es  an  provincialis  ?  and  showed 
by  a  further  question  that  the  speech  (or  accent)  of  the 
historian  resembled  that  of  Pliny,  who  was  born  at  Como.4 
His  father  was  possibly  the   knight  Cornelius  Tacitus, 
mentioned  by  the  Elder  Pliny5  as  procurator  of  Gallia 
Belgica. 

2.  As  for  his  official  career,  Tacitus  tells  us 8  with  ex- 
cess of  brevity,  that  he  owed  his  first  advance  to  Ves- 
pasian, and  further  promotion  to  Titus  and  Domitian. 
That  the  first  stage  was  the  quaestorship  is  possible,  but 
quite  uncertain.     To  Domitian  he  was  indebted  probably 

1  Ep.  7,  20,  3.  «  Plin.  Ep.  9,  23,  2. 

8  Ib.  §  4.  «  N.  H.  7,  76. 

*  Before  August,  62 ;  id.  6,  20,  5.  •  Hist.  1,  1. 

ix 


X  INTRODUCTION 

for  the  gedileship,  or  tribuneship,  soon  after  81,  and  for  the 
pratorship.  This  last  office  was  held  in  88,  the  year  of 
the  Ludi  SaecuLares,  on  which  occasion  Tacitus  had  further 
duties  as  a  member  of  the  college  of  quindecimviri.1  Mean- 
time he  had  married  the  daughter  of  Agricola  in  78,2  just 
as  the  latter  passed  from  his  consulship  to  the  governor- 
ship of  Britain.  At  the  time  of  Agricola's  death  in  93 
Tacitus  had  been  absent  from  Rome  four  years,3  but  it  is 
not  known  what  provincial  appointment  he  held.  His 
consulship  falls  in  the  last  months  of  97,  near  the  end  of 
Nerva's  short  reign  (f  Jan.,  98).  As  consul  he  pronounced 
the  laudatio  funebris  over  Verginius  Rufus,  a  popular  hero, 
and  survivor  of  the  revolution  of  69.4  In  January,  100, 
he  was  associated  with  Pliny,  then  consul  designate,  in  the 
trial  of  Marius  Priscus,  who  had  been  proconsul  of  Africa.5 
The  last  stage  in  his  public  life  was  reached  about  112, 
when  he  was  proconsul  of  Asia,  as  we  learn  from  an 
inscription  found  at  Mylasa,  in  Caria,  in  1890.6  His  death 
probably  occurred  early  in  the  reign  of  Hadrian  (117-138), 
certainly  after  the  year  116,  as  is  shown  by  a  reference 
in  one  of  the  early  books  of  the  Annals  7  to  Trajan's 
eastern  conquests. 

II.    THE  WORKS  OF  TACITUS 

3.   None  of  the  orations  of  Tacitus  has  come  down  to 

us.    His  earliest  extant  work,  the  DMogus  de  Oratoribus,  is 

a  Ciceronian  dialogue  on  the  decline  of  oratory.     It  was 

probably  written  before  his  qusstorship,  and  published 

1  Ann.  11,  11.  »Ib.  45. 

*  Agr.  9  fin.  «  Plin.  Ep.  2.  1.  6. 

*  Id.  2,  11. 

6  Bull.  corr.  hell.  XIV,  621  ff.;  Dittenberger,  Orient.  Gr.  Inscrr.  Sel. 
n>  487-  7  2,  61  fin. 


INTRODUCTION  xi 

perhaps  under  Titus  (79-81).  Owing  to  Domitian's  re- 
pression of  free  speech  it  was  not  until  after  the  tyrant's 
death  (96)  that  Tacitus,  at  a  mature  age,  entered  upon  his 
productive  period.  This  begins  with  the  appearance  of 
the  Agricola,  a  life  of  his  father-in-law,  in  98;  and  in  the 
same  year  he  published  the  Germania,  a  brief  account 
of  the  land  and  the  people.  Both  of  these  works  were 
strongly  influenced  by  Sallust. 

4.  The  Histories  (Historiae)  had  been  announced  in 
the  preface  to  the  Agricola,  but  were  not  completed  until 
a  decade  later.  The  period  covered  was  from  Jan.  1,  69, 
to  the  death  of  Domitian,  Sept.  18,  96.  It  was  thus  a 
history  of  the  Flavian  dynasty  (Vespasian  and  his  two 
sons),  preceded  by  an  account  of  the  revolution  year,  69. 
The  first  four  books  and  part  of  the  fifth  remain  (69-70 
only),  out  of  an  original  twelve  to  fourteen. 

The  Ab  excessu  Divi  Augusti  libri,  better  known  as  the 
Annales,  followed  the  Histories  in  time  of  publication, 
appearing  in  116,  or  the  first  half  of  117.1  They  dealt, 
however,  with  the  period  preceding  that  covered  by  the 
Histories,  viz.  from  the  death  of  Augustus  in  14  A.D.  to 
Dec.  31,  68,  thus  including  the  fall  of  Nero  and  Galba's 
seven  months'  reign,  except  for  the  last  fifteen  days  (Jan. 
1-15,  69),  which  fell  within  the  period  of  the  Histories. 
Extant  are  books  1-4,  a  fragment  of  5,  part  of  6,  also  11-15, 
and  part  of  16  (11  being  imperfect  at  the  beginning).  The 
original  number  was  probably  sixteen,  or  at  most  eighteen. 

Taken  together  the  Annals  and  the  Histories  formed  a 
connected  narrative  in  thirty  books,  14-96  A.D.,  but  with 
marked  differences  of  style  in  the  two  distinct  portions. 
The  extant  books  of  the  Annals  are  a  tragedy  of  the  Caesars, 

1  Ann.  2,  61  fin. 


xii  INTRODUCTION 

especially  Tiberius  and  Nero;  the  remaining  fragment  of 
the  Histories  is  a  tragedy  of  the  empire  itself,  in  a  blind 
struggle  of  armies  and  provinces,  awaking  suddenly  to 
potential  mastery  of  the  world.1 

A  continuation  of  the  narrative  through  the  short  rule 
of  Nerva  and  into  the  long  reign  of  Trajan  was  at  one 
time  contemplated,2  but  never  executed. 

III.    THE  STYLE  OF  TACITUS 

5.  Tacitus  occupies  a  poeition  unique  among  ancient 
writers  in  that  he  developed  a  style  absolutely  his  own. 
Beginning  as  a  clever  imitator,  first  of  Cicero  in  the 
Dialogus,  and  then  of  Sallust  in  the  Agricola  and  Ger- 
mania,  he  was  deeply  influenced  by  Thucydides  and  al- 
ways permeated  by  the  language  of  Vergil.3  Yet  in  his 
mature  historical  works  he  attained  complete  mastery. 
"  The  historian  speaks  a  language  so  rapid,  so  strong,  so 
keen,  that  he  carries  you  away,  draws  you  to  him,  compels 
you  to  think  with  him  in  this  language  which  is  his  own."  4 
Besides  these  qualities  of  movement,  of  incisiveness,  of 
compelling  power,  there  is  a  grave  dignity  which  scorns  all 
that  is  low  and  common.5  This  stateliness  was  the  con- 
spicuous feature  of  Tacitus  the  orator,  as  we  may  well 
believe  his  friend  the  Younger  Pliny.6 

The  literary  art  of  Tacitus  is  dominated  by  two  lead- 
ing principles:  (a)  freedom  to  disregard  almost  any  pre- 

1  Cf.  Mackail,  Latin  Literature,  216  ff. 

»  Hist.  1,  1  fin. ;  Agr.  3  fin. ;  cf.  Boissier,  Tacite,  53. 

*  For  a  comparison  of  one  of  the  greatest  passages  in  the  Histories,  the 
siege  and  sack  of  the  Capitol  (3,  71  f.),  with  Vergil '3  sack  of  Troy,  cf. 
Mackail,  op.  cit.,  219  f. 

4  Sainte-Beuve,  Premiers  Lundis,  I,  237. 

1  Cf-  §  20.  o  Ep.  2,  11,  17. 


INTRODUCTION  xiii 

viously  accepted  canon  of  normal  prose;    and  (6)  a  love 
of  concentration  which  delights  in  the  sharpest  focus. 

(a)  FREEDOM 

6.  With  the  exception  of  Sallust,  the  leading  prose- 
writers  of  the  golden  age  had  willingly  accepted  the  tram- 
mels of  the  periodic  style.     A  period,  to  quote  Taine's 
definition,1  is  "the  expression  of  a  complete  idea  which 
marches  with  a  large  cortege  of  secondary  propositions, 
all  surrounded  by  a  number  of  separate  ideas,  like  a  dis- 
ciplined   army,    which    advances    with    one    movement 
towards  a  designated  goal."     But  this  stately  form  was 
ill   adapted   to   animated   narration.     Even   Cicero   was 
thought  to  be  longus  in  narrationibus,   at  least  in  his 
earlier  orations.2     Sallust  accordingly  discarded  the  limi- 
tations of  the  period,  and  attained  rapidity  of  movement, 
—  his  immortalis  velocitas.3 

Livy  avoids  monotony  by  introducing  sentences  of 
less  formal  structure,  but  gladly  reverts  to  his  favorite 
period,  —  an  orderly  sequence  of  motives,  attendant  cir- 
cumstances, and  other  preliminaries,  leading  up  chrono- 
logically to  the  principal  action,  usually  the  closing  word. 
The  effect  of  such  a  sentence  is  often  that  of  a  miniature 
drama.  Yet  the  reader  may  in  the  end  lose  patience, 
and  wish  the  writer  had  been  less  hampered  by  an 
artificial  form  brought  over  from  oratory  into  history. 

7.  Tacitus  follows  Sallust  in  his  general  aversion  to 
the  period.4     Thus  he  gains  the  freedom  to  place  the  main 
action  first,  and  then  the  thoughts  of  the  agent  or  spec- 
tators, the  circumstances,  explanatory,  extenuating,  or 

1  Tite  Live,  325.  2  Dial.  22.  *  Quint.  10,  1,  102. 

«  For  a  very  elaborate  period)  cf.  2,  37  Ego  ut  concesserim,  etc. 


xiv  INTRODUCTION 

otherwise.  Often  he  closes  with  a  pointed  observation, 
suggested  by  the  situation,  but  of  a  general  character. 
Such  bits  of  worldly  wisdom,  the  sententiae  of  the  schools, 
were  much  affected  by  Seneca  and  his  followers.1  With 
Tacitus  the  fact  that  he  has  reached  the  main  verb  is 
no  reason  for  pause;  the  sentence  may  be  continued  by 
adding  further  clauses.  Especially  frequent  in  this  posi- 
tion, after  the  main  thought,  is  the  ablative  absolute, 
which  thus  loses  its  old  parenthetical  character;  e.g.:  — 

1,  2  consumptis  antiquissimis  delubris,  ipso  Capitolio  civium 

manibus  incenso  (cf.  below,  §  12). 
13  fin.  faventibus  plerisque  militum,  etc. 
20  decuma  parte  .  .  .  relicta. 
22  urguentibus  etiam  mathematicis. 
31  invalidis  adhuc  corporibus,  etc. 
34  credulafama,  etc.* 

8.  The  main  verb  is  often  followed  by  a  comment  of 
the  author,  who  supplies  a  motive,  or  calls  attention  to  a 
result,  by  an  apposition,  in  the  accusative,  if  the  verb 
denotes  an  activity,  otherwise  in  the  nominative,  e.g. :  — 

1,  44  munimentum  ad  praesens,  in  posterum  uUionem. 
46  rem  haud  dubie  utilem,  etc. 
72  effugium  (ace.)  infuturum. 

But  1,  22  genus  .  .  .  infidum,  nominative,  with  the  subject  of 
a  verb  of  saying. 

9.  A  main  verb  is  frequently  the  first  word  of  the  sen- 
tence, without  gaining  special  emphasis  thereby,  e.g. :  — 

1,  5  accessit  Galbae  vox. 
17  consultatum  info. 

19  agitatum. 
ib.  placebat. 

20  exauctorati. 

»  Quint.  8,  5,  13-14.  »  Of.  also  2,  4,  11,  51,  55,  70,  etc. 


INTRODUCTION  XV 

A  more  studied  arrangement  is  found  where  one  verb 
stands  at  the  beginning  and  another  at  the  end  of  the 
sentence,  e.g.:  — 

I,  25  suscepere  .  .  .  transferendum,  et  transttderunt. 

10.  A  perfectly  flexible  order  made  it  possible  to  dis- 
pense with  many  of  the  familiar  words  or  phrases  of  logical 
connection.  A  hasty  impression  that  these  sentences, 
which  plunge  in  medias  res,  are  loosely  connected  in 
thought,  is  quickly  dispelled.  "  These  members  which  at 
first  sight  one  might  think  broken,  straggling,  simply 
ranged  side  by  side,  are  united  by  an  invincible  bond, 
stirred  by  a  common  life,  animated  by  one  and  the  same 
breath  of  thought."  * 

II.  Flexibility  was  further  gained  in  a  marked  degree 
by  the  use  of  participial  phrases  in  place  of  a  cumbrous 
clause.     By  this  means  almost  more  than  any  other  the 
sentences  of  Tacitus  escape  the  traditional  rigidity  of  the 
Latin  for  a  Greek  freedom,  with  a  further  gain,  now  in  the 
direction  of  conciseness,  now  of  spirit,  now  of  point.    The 
heavy  infantry  of  the  clause  is  easily  outmaneuvered  by 
the  light-armed  phrase,  e.g. :  — 

1,  2  omissi  gestique  honor es  pro  crimine. 

28  corrupta  latins  castra  et  .  .  .  exitium  metuens. 

76  occupaverat  animos  prior  auditus  (here  the  ptcp.  has  a 

pred.,  prior). 
89  Caecina  iam  Alpes  transgressus  (i.e.  the  fact  that,  etc.). 

2,  5  cuncta  .  .  .  supergressa  (do.). 

Less  frequently  an  adjective  is  similarly  used,  e.g.:  — 
2,  82  fin.  nihil  arduum  fatis  (do.). 

1  Sainte-Beuve,  Premiers  Lundis,  I,  238. 


xvi  INTRODUCTION 

12.  In  participial  phrases  of  various  types  the  perfect 
sometimes  becomes  an  aorist,  losing  all  sense  of  a  particu- 
lar time,  e.g. :  — 

1,  2  consumptis  .  .  .  delubris,  etc.  (cf.  above,  §  7). 
20  relicta  (do.). 

62  nomine  .  .  .  addito. 

63  raptis  .  .   .  armis. 

2,  43  interfecto  .  .  .  legato. 

13.  The  Latin  love  of  symmetry  had  in  the  classical 
period  displayed  itself  in  balanced  thoughts  expressed  in 
balanced  forms.     With  Tacitus,  in  spite  of  studied  terse- 
ness, symmetry  of  thought  remains  an  important  element, 
but  the  second  term  is  all  but  invariably  presented  in  a 
different  form.     A  superficial  observer  thinks  him  per- 
versely fond  of  the  unsymmetrical.     Often,  however,  he 
must  have  aimed  to  make  the  concinnity  of  thought  only 
more  evident  by  the  inconcinnity  of  expression :  — 

1,  1  neque  amore  \  sine  odio. 

20  per  artem  \  formidine. 

21  compositis  rebus  \  in  turbido. 

22  si  auderet  \  quiescenti. 

23  vocans  \  appellando. 
28  magnitudine  \  metuens. 

44  ad  praesens  \  in  posterum. 

63  ob  praedam  \  spoliandi  cupidine. 
88  nullum  ob  crimen  \  monstratus. 

2,  1  prosperum  |  exitio. 

26  apud  paucos  .  .  .  probata  \  in  vulgus  adverso  rumore. 

45  in  ambiguo  \  certa. 
57  palam  \  inter  seer  eta.1 

14.  Yet  he  does  not  hesitate  to  employ  pairs  of  syno- 
nyms and  balanced  expressions,  e.g. :  — 

1  Cf.  also  1,  14  fin.,  35  fin.,  43,  64,  88  fin. ;  2,  9,  23  fin.,  30,  34, 44,  49, 
59  fin.,  etc. 


INTRODUCTION  Xvii 

1,  46  per  latrocinia  et  raptus  (2,  58). 

1,  72  desertor  ac  proditor. 
88  occultare  et  abdere. 

2,  12  non   Italia  .  .  .  nee  loca  sedesque  patriae  .  .  .  tanquam 

externa  litora  et  urbes  hostium. 
21  legionum  et  Germanici  exercitus  .  .  .  urbanae  militiae  et 

praetoriarum  cohortium. 

ib.  segnem  et  desidem  .  .  .  peregrinum  et  externum. 
47  civile    bellum  .  .  .  coepit,    et    ut  .  .  .  certaremus    armis, 

initium  illinc  fuit. 

15.  The  principle  of  variety  shows  itself  again  in  the 
use  of  the  abstract  for  the  concrete,  and  vice  versa,  or  in 
an  abrupt  change  from  the  one  to  the  other,  e.g. :  — 

1,  17  publica  expectatio. 

19  favor  =  fautores  (followed  by  concrete,  rrnilti). 
2,  4  fiducia  (of  a  person  who  produces  that  state  of  mind  in 

others). 
5  fides. 
1,  4  gaudentium  =•  gaudil. 

Sometimes,  on  the  other  hand,  abstract  is  preferred  to 
concrete  for  reasons  of  symmetry,  e.g. :  — 

1,  2  exiliis  =  exulibus  (with  caedibus). 

Behind  the  ready  transition  from  concrete  to  abstract 
and  back  again  lies  the  philosophic  temper  of  the  his- 
torian, who  sees  in  an  abstraction  the  living  beings  who 
personify  it.  It  is  one  of  the  ways  in  which  he  treats 
history  in  terms  of  the  universal. 

16.  Roman  prose  in  the  Ciceronian  age  was  still  emi- 
nently unimaginative.     A  sharp  line  was  drawn  between 
the  vocabulary  of  prose  and  poetry.     For  later  genera- 
tions this  line  was  in  large  measure  effaced  under  the  spell 
of  Augustan  poetry.     Hence  the  widespread  employment 


xviii  INTRODUCTION 

of  poetic  words  and  usages  in  silver  Latin  prose,1  —  the 
ever-present  umbra  of  the  Mantuan.  Examples  from  the 
Histories  are:  — 

1,  16  regnare  as  a  transitive  verb. 
32  valescere  (80  evalescere). 

39  crebrescere  (2,  67). 

40  proculcare. 
62  praesumere. 

2,  3  adolere. 

27  su&pectare. 

32  obumbrare. 

44  resumere. 

46  flagrare  ire. 

58  spargere  =  divulgare  or  efferre. 

74  flammare. 

1,  68  concitor;  2,  80  ostentator;  86  raptor. 
1,  62  meatus;  2,  88  occur sus. 

1,  66  velamentum. 

2,  70  ta&um. 

1,  10  inmotus;  2,  60  inemptus. 

2,  61  inviolabilis. 
1,  24  indigus. 

82  lymphatus. 
86  refusus. 
2,  1  praesagus. 
1,  37  feralis. 

17.   In  place  of  the  trite  compound,  we  often  meet  the 
poetic  use  of  the  simple  verb  in  the  same  sense,  e.g. :  — 

1,  2  mittere  (omittere). 

5  vereri  (re-). 
29  servare  (do.). 
79  fodere  (trans-). 
2,  1,  26  /erre  (prae-). 

12  raper e  (diripere). 
15  sidere  (re-). 

1  For  Tacitus  as  a  poet,  cf.  below,  §  30  n.  4. 


INTRODUCTION  xix 

16  tenere  (do.). 
18,  58  propinquare  (ad-). 
53  clarescere  (in-),  etc. 

18.  As  in  poetry,  there  is   a   tendency  (much   more 
marked  in  the  Annals)  to  omit  the  preposition  in  expres- 
sions of  the  place  in  which,  or  from  which,  e.g. :  — 

1,  55  suggestu. 

2,  16  balineis. 
2,  62  Italia. 

65  Britannia. 

19.  Poetic  phrases  and  expressions  are  not  infrequent, 
e.g. :  — 

1,  12  fessa  aetas. 

50  arma  Orientis. 

2,  11  lecta  corpora. 
20  bracas  indutus. 
22  dies  =  lux. 

35  vulnera  ( =  ictus)  derigere. 
46  maesta  fama. 

20.  Common  to  poetry  and  oratory  *  is  the  avoidance  of 
technical  terms,  trivial  or  pedantic  details,  e.g. :  — 

1,  9  debilitate  pedum  (=  podagra). 

2,  3  continuus  orbis,  etc.  (  =  conus). 
49  capiti  (  =  pulvino) . 

ib.  pectore   (omitting   the   detail   infra  laevam  papillam  of 
Suet.). 

51  per  aversam  domus  partem  (i.e.  posticum). 

(6)  CONCENTRATION 

21.  Tacitus'  conciseness  is  no  mere  economy  of  words, 
after  the  fashion  of  the  letter  writer  or  diarist.     Unlike 
Sallust,  he  probably  did  not  regard  brevity  as  a  virtue 

1  Taine,  Tite  Live,  324. 


XX  INTRODUCTION 

in  itself,  but  as  a  means  to  a  distinct  end.  Concentration, 
rather  than  rapidity  of  movement,  is  his  purpose. 

The  reader's  thoughts  may  be  focused  upon  the  chief 
features  of  a  situation,  leading  traits  of  a  character,  etc., 
by  simply  framing  a  list  of  these  in  the  nominative,  with- 
out verbs.  This  is  a  deliberate  stylistic  device,  to  con- 
centrate attention  upon  the  salient  points  of  a  picture 
which  the  reader  is  then  left  to  complete  from  his  own 
imagination.  Sallust  had  occasionally  given  vividness  to 
a  descriptive  passage  by  merely  setting  down  the  features 
of  the  description  one  after  another.1  He  had  also  ap- 
plied the  same  method  to  a  pen  portrait.2  Vergil  effec- 
tively employed  the  same  device;3  and  Livy  sometimes 
used  it.4 

22.  With  Tacitus  this  becomes  a  feature  of  his  style.5 
A  noun  with  its  adjective  or  participle  is  quite  enough  to 
suggest  a  first  element  in  the  picture.  What  if  nothing 
is  formally  predicated  of  that  noun?  Other  elements 
similarly  sketched  immediately  follow,  and  imagination, 
freed  from  the  restraints  of  formal  grammar,  has  soon 
called  up  the  whole  scene  before  us.  The  most  striking 
example  of  enumeration  as  a  pictorial  method  stands 
near  the  beginning  of  the  Histories,  2-3  Opus  adgredior 
opimum  casibus  .  .  .  quattuor  principes  ferro  interempti; 
trina  bella  civilia  .  .  .  prosperae  in  Oriente,  adversae  in 
Occidente  res,  etc.  It  is  an  intensely  vivid  picture  in  out- 
line of  the  whole  period  which  he  intended  to  cover.  For 
more  than  two  hundred  words  there  are  no  verbs,  —  only 
a  long  list  of  nominatives  with  participles  or  adjectives. 

1  E-g-  Iuff-  17,  5.  «  E.g.  Aen.  1,  639  ff. 

2  Cf.  Cat.  5,  3  f .  «  E.g.  21,  4,  6  f. 

8  Cf.  Trans.  Am.  Philol.  Assoc.  XXXIV,  1903,  5-26. 


INTRODUCTION  xxi 

This  mass  of  distinct  elements  —  horrible,  revolting,  vile, 
good,  noble  —  is  the  cartoon  of  the  master,  from  which 
the  reader  conjures  up  the  finished  tapestry.1 

23.  Briefer  examples  of  the  same  method  of  descrip- 
tion or  picturesque  narration  abound :  — 

1,  4  sed  patres  laeti,  etc. 

6  introitus  in  itfbem,  etc. 

7  venalia  cuncta,  etc. 

40  neque  populi  aut  plebis  ulla  vox,  etc. 
88  igitur  motae  urbis  curae,  etc. 
2,  70  foedum  atque  atrox  spectaculum,  etc. 
99  longe  alia  .  .  .  species,  etc. 

24.  With  such  adverbs  as  hinc,  inde,  unde,  ibi,  ubique, 
etc.,  the  verb  esse,  whether  as  copula  or  as  part  of  a  com- 
pound tense,  is  quite  usually  omitted,  e.g. :  — 

1,  17  consultatum  inde,  etc. 

19  inde  apud  senatum,  etc. 

20  ubique  hasta  et  sector,  etc. 
53  unde  seditiosa  colloquia,  etc. 

2,  15  atrox  ibi  caedes. 

In  temporal  clauses  also,  with  postquam,  ubi,  etc. :  — 

1,  1  postquam  bellatum  apud  Actium. 
22  postquam  ex  eventu  fides. 

2,  33  postquam  .  .  .  placitum. 
28  quod  ubi  auditum  vulgatumque. 

Or  in  character  sketches :  — 

1,  10  luxuria  industria,  etc. 

49  vetus  in  familia  nobilitas,  etc. 

2,  5  Vespasianus  acer  militiae,  etc. 

1  Cf.  the  translation  of  J.  J.  Rousseau  :  "Quatre  empereurs  egorges, 
trois  guerres  civiles.  .  .  .  Des  succes  en  Orient,  des  revers  en  Occident; 
des  troubles  en  Illyrie,  la  Gaule  dbranle'e,  1'Angleterre  conquise,"  etc., 
a  page  and  a  half  with  no  principal  verbs;  (Euvres,  1792,  XVII,  9  ff. 
Louandre  in  his  translation  follows  the  same  method  in  chap.  2. 


xxii  INTRODUCTION 

25.  Corresponding  to  the  vivid  description  by  mere 
enumeration  is  concentrated   narrative  in  the  form   of 
historical  infinitives  in  a  series,  —  a  rapid  enumeration  of 
actions  which  followed  each  other  in  quick  succession. 
Sallust  had  used  the  historical  infinitive  far  more  fre- 
quently, but  with  much  less  animation  than  Livy  and 
Tacitus.     A  few  examples,  though  none  is  needed :  — 

1,  35  mere  .  .  .  ostentare  .  .  .  scire  .  .  .  adfirmare. 

36  strepere  .  .  .  prensare  .  .  .  complecti  .  .  .  conlocare,  etc. 

45  mere  .  .  .  anteire  .  .  .  certare  .  .  .  increpare,  etc. 

26.  Ellipsis  of  other  verbs  than  esse  is  far  rarer,  and 
practically  confined  to  familiar  cases  where  a  Roman 
reader  would  not  have  felt  the  necessity  of  supplying 
anything :  — 

abesse  —  2,  16  longe  Germaniam. 
facer e  —  1,  36  el  omnia  serviliter. 

65  multae  .  .  .  clades  crebrius  infestiusque. 

84  vos  quidem  istud  pro  me. 
agere  —  2,  16  nee  tamen  aperta  vi. 

35  quae  cuncta  in  oculis. 

In  contrasted  statements  the  first  may  dispense  with 
a  verb,  even  where  an  unexpected  change  of  construction 
in  the  second  makes  it  impossible  to  classify  the  case 
under  zeugma,  e.g. :  — 

2,  7  optimus  quisque  amore  rei   publicae   [ducebatur],  multos 
dulcedo  praedarum  stimulabat,  alias  ambiguae  domi  res. 

46  nee  praetoriani  tantum,  proprius  Othonis  miles  [ita  per- 

severabant,  i.e.  hanc  obstinationem  monstrabant],  sed 
praemissi  e  Moesia  eandem  obstinationem  adventantis 
exercitus  .  .  .  nuntiabant. 

27.  The  pointed  sayings  of  Tacitus  show  an  unrivaled 
power  of  condensation.     The  words  may  be  simple  in 
themselves,  but  they  are  grouped  in  a  phrase  which  is  his 


INTRODUCTION  xxiii 

for  all  time.     Many  of  these  mark  the  conclusion  of  a 
speech,  or  a  paragraph  :  — 

1,  10  tarn  prope  ab  exulefuit  quam  postea  a  principe. 
29  fatigabat  alieni  iam  imperii  deos. 

38  in  eo  consilio  quod  non  potest  laudari  nisi  peractum. 

49  maior  private  visus,  dum  privatus  fuit,  et  omnium  con- 

sensu  capax  imperii,  nisi  imperasset. 
59  damnatos  fidei  crimine,  gravissimo  inter  desciscentes. 

73  pecunia  et  orbitate,  quae  bonis  malisque  temporibus  iuxta 

valent. 

2,  39  nee  perinde  diiudicari  potest,  quid  optimum  factu  fuerit, 

quam  pessimum  fuisse  quod  factum  est. 

47  nam  incusare  deos  vel  homines  eius  est  qui  vivere  velit. 

48  neu  patruum  sibi  Othonem  fuisse  aut  oblivisceretur  umquam 

aut  nimium  meminisset. 

74  imperium    cupientibus    nihil   medium   inter    summa  aut 

praecipitia. 
77  qui  deliberant,  desciverunt. 

IV.    TACITUS  AND   HIS   LITERARY  CRITICS 

28.  Does  Tacitus  deserve  our  confidence  as  a  historian  ? 
Was  he  rather  a  historical  painter,  delighting  in  somber 
colors,  whether  true  to  nature  or  not  ?  Did  he  deliberately 
blacken  the  character  of  the  emperors?  These  are  ques- 
tions of  vital  interest  to  the  reader  of  the  Annals,  where 
untrustworthy  sources  were  less  readily  controlled.  In 
dealing  with  contemporary  events  in  the  Histories  he  is 
relatively  free  from  bias.  He  was  not  infallible  as  a 
searcher  of  individual  hearts,  but  deep  knowledge  of 
human  nature  made  him  a  moral  philosopher.  Nearly 
every  chapter  yields  some  profound  reflection.1  It  is  not 
objective  history  that  he  offers,  but  his  own  subjective 

1  "The  historian  and  the  philosopher,  the  moral  philosopher,  at  least, 
are  united  in  Tacitus,  and  this  is  his  glory. "  —  Sainte-Beuve,  Causeriea, 
IX,  99. 


xxiv  INTRODUCTION 

interpretation  of  men  and  events,  strongly  tinged  with 
pessimism.  While  indignation  often  guided  his  pen,  there 
is  nothing  unworthy  of  "the  gravest  of  the  historians."  1 

29.  In  Racine's  judgment  Tacitus  was  "the  greatest 
painter  of  antiquity."  2     And  nearly  all  the  critics  are 
with  him.     A  great  modern  historian  has  said,  "Tacitus 
is  perhaps  not  the  best  narrator,  but  the  greatest  painter 
of  situations."3    To  compare  him  in  this  respect  with  Livy 
is  to  venture  a  comparison  between  Michael  Angelo  and 
Raphael.     In  Livy  romantic  temper  and  love  of  the  ideal 
express  themselves,  as  with  Raphael,  in  human  grace  and 
warmth  of  color.      Bold  relief,  intense  shadows,  achieved 
by  a  painter's    brush    in    a    sculptor's    hand,   profound 
thought  embodied  in  figures  heroic  or  satanic,  grim  des- 
tiny and  the  judgment  of  an  aging  world,  foreshadowed 
in  bitterness  of  heart  with  sovereignty  of  touch,  —  that  is 
Angelo,  or  Tacitus. 

30.  His  wide  departure  from  the  Ciceronian  canons 
explains  the  tardy  acknowledgment  which  he  won  from 
the  Italian  scholars  of  the  Renaissance.     The  sixteenth 
and  seventeenth  centuries  read  him  as  a  master  of  mo- 
narchical rule;    the  eighteenth  as  the  apostle  of  repub- 
licanism; the  nineteenth  inclined  to  view  him  as  painter 
and  stylist 4  rather  than  as  historian.5 

1  Bossuet,  Oraison  fun&bre  de  Henriette-Anne  d'Angleterre,  sub  fin. 

2  Second  preface  to  Britannicus. 

3  v.  Ranke,  Weltgeschichte,  III,  2,  318. 

4  Tacitus  "has  the  defects  of  his  time,  but  also  the  gift  divine  which  is 
lacking  to  Livy:  Tacitus  is  a  poet. "  —  Taine,  Tite  Live,  347.     Accord- 
ing to  Leo  the  permanent  fame  of  Tacitus  is  explained  by  the  fact  that 
he  was  a  poet  in  prose,  —  "one  of  the  few  great  poets  whom  the  Romans 
possessed."  —  Tacitus  (Rede),  Gottingen,  1896,  13. 

4  Cf .  Ramorino,  Cornelia  Tacito,   etc.,2  Milan,  1898,  78;  Vannucci, 
Stvdt  storici  e  morali  sulla  latteratura  italiana,3  Turin,  1886,  508  ff . 


INTRODUCTION  XXV 

"  If  one  gives  himself  up  to  the  impression  made  by  his 
books,  one  is  carried  away  by  it.  There  is  no  trace  in 
him  of  the  manner  and  method  of  Greek  historiography. 
He  is  Roman  through  and  through,  and  indeed  the  master 
of  all  who  have  written  before  or  since.1  His  universality 
culminates  in  the  fact  that  the  heart  of  the  Roman  state, 
and  the  contrasts  it  contained  between  unlimited  power 
and  republican  sentiment,  are  described  by  him  at  a 
moment  when  world-conquest,  on  one  side  at  least,  had 
been  brought  to  a  standstill,  while  on  its  frontiers  there 
were  the  stirrings  of  a  power  which  was  some  day  to 
destroy  them.  The  historian  stands  on  the  confines  of 
both  worlds."  2 

V.    THE  TEXT  OF  THE  HISTORIES 

31.  In  the  Middle  Ages  Tacitus  was  almost  completely 
neglected.  Hence  the  text  of  the  Histories  must  now  be 
based  upon  a  single  manuscript,  written  probably  in  the 
eleventh  century  at  Monte  Cassino,  the  mother  convent 
of  the  Benedictine  order,  about  halfway  between  Rome 
and  Naples.  This  manuscript  was  brought  to  light 
apparently  by  Boccaccio,3  about  1362,  and  came  later 
into  the  possession  of  the  Medici  family  of  Florence,  where 
it  is  still  preserved  in  the  Laurentian  Library.  Copies 
made  by  Italian  humanists  exist,  but  have  no  value,  ex- 
cept where  the  original  is  defective.4  The  entire  Medici 

1  "If  the  aim  of  history  is  to  resuscitate  the  past,  no  historian  equals 
Tacitus."  "This  brilliance  of  a  style  which  poetry,  hatred,  and  study 
inflamed  and  darkened,  is  met  with  but  once  in  history,  and  required  for 
its  production  that  mind,  that  civilization,  and  that  decadence."  — 
Taine,  Tite  Live,  348,  349  f .  2  v.  Ranke,  I.e.  317. 

3  Voigt,  Wiederbelebung  des  classischen  Alterthums,  I,  249  f. 

4  E.g.  where  a  leaf  has  fallen  out,  at  1,  69-75  and  1,  86-2,  2. 


xxvi  INTRODUCTION 

codex 1  has  been  reproduced  in  photographic  facsimile,  and 
published  under  the  auspices  of  Scato  de  Vries,  at  Ley  den, 
1902. 

VI.     BRIEF  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

(a)  TEXT  EDITIONS 

HALM,  C.,  Teubner  text,  last  reprinted  in  1907,  Leipzig. 
VAN  DER  VLIET,  J.,  Leyden,  1899. 
MULLER,  J.,  2d  ed.  mai.,  Leipzig  and  Vienna,  1906. 
NIPPERDEY,  K,  Berlin,  1874. 

(6)  ANNOTATED  EDITIONS  OF  THE  HISTORIES 

ORELLI-MEISER,  with  Latin  commentary,  Berlin,  1884. 

HERAUS,  CARL,  revised  by  Wilhelm  Heraus,  German 
notes;  books  1-2,  5th  ed.,  1904;  3-5,  4th  ed.,  1899; 
Leipzig  and  Berlin. 

WOLFF,  E.,  German  notes,  Berlin,  1886-1888. 

SPOONER,  W.  A.,  English  notes  and  historical  introduc- 
tion, London,  1891. 

VALMAGGI,  L.,  books  1-3,  Italian  notes,  introductions, 
and  bibliography,  Turin,  1891-1906. 

CONSTANS,  L.,  and  GIRBAL,  P.,  French  notes,  Paris,  1900. 

GOELZER,  H.,  French  notes  and  a  study  of  Tacitus'  lan- 
guage, 3d  ed.,  Paris,  1896. 

GANTRELLE,  J.,  French  notes,  2d  ed.,  Paris,  1880. 

GODLEY,  A.  D.,  English  notes,  London,  1887  (reprinted 
several  times  since) . 

SIMCOX,  W.  H.,  English  notes,  London,  1875-1876. 

DAVIES,  G.  A.,  book  1,  English  notes,  Cambridge,  Eng- 
land, 1896  (reprinted  1901). 

'Laur.  68,11. 


INTRODUCTION  xxvii 

(c)  TRANSLATIONS 

QUILL,  A.  W.,  with  introduction  and  notes,  London,  1892- 

1896. 
CHURCH,  A.  J.,  and  BRODRIBB,  W.  J.,  new  ed.,  London, 

1905. 

(d)  OTHER  WORKS 

BOISSIER,   G.,    Tacite   (an  essay),    Paris,   2d   ed.,    1904; 

translated  by  W.  G.  Hutchison,  London  and  New 

York,  1906. 
HENDERSON,  B.  W.,  Civil  War  and  Rebellion  in  the  Roman 

Empire  A.D.  69-70.    A  Companion  to  the  '  Histories ' 

of  Tacitus,  London,  1908. 

LEO,  F.,  Tacitus  (an  address),  Gottingen,  1896. 
WACKERMANN,    O.,    Der   Geschichtschreiber   P.    Cornelius 

Tacitus,  Gutersloh,  1898. 
MACK  AIL,  J.  W.,  Latin  Literature,  New  York,  1899,  205- 

220. 
L.  v.  SCHWABE,  article  on  Tacitus,  in  PAULY-WISSOWA, 

Stuttgart,  1901,  1566-1590. 
NORDEN,  E.,  Antike  Kunstprosa,  Leipzig,  1898,  I,  326  ff. 

(a  new  edition  has  just  appeared,  1909). 
RAMORINO,  F.,  Cornelio  Tacito  nella  storia  della  coltura, 

2d  ed.,  Milan,  1898. 
DRAEGER,  A.,  Syntax  u.  Stil  des  Tacitus,  3d  ed.,  Leipzig, 

1882. 
H.  FURNEAUX,  The  Syntax  and  Style  of  Tacitus,  in  his  ed. 

of  the  Annals2,  Oxford,  1896,  38  ff. 
CONSTANS,  L.,  Etude  sur  la  Langue  de  Tacite,  Paris,  1893. 
GANTRELLE,  J.,  Grammaire  et  Style  de  Tacite,  2d  ed.,  Paris, 

1882. 
FABIA,  P.,  Onomasticon  Taciteum,  Paris  and  Lyons,  1900. 


xxviii  INTRODUCTION 

FABIA,  P.,  Les  Sources  de  Tacite  dans  les  Histoires  et  les 

Annales,  Paris,  1893. 
ANDRESEN,  G.,  In  Taciti  Historias  studia  critica  et  palaeo- 

graphica,  Berlin,  1899-1900. 
GERBER,  A.,  und  GREEF,  A.,  Lexicon  Taciteum,  Leipzig, 

1877-1903. 


THE   HISTORIES   OF   TACITUS 
BOOKS  I  AND  II 


CORNELII  TACITI 

HISTORIARVM 

LIBER  I 

Initium  mihi  opens  Servius  Galba  iterum  Titus  Vinius  1 
consules  erunt.  Nam  post  conditam  urbem  octingentos  et 
viginti  prioris  aevi  annos  multi  auctores  rettulerunt,  dum 
res  populi  Romani  memorabantur  pari  eloquentia  ac 
libertate :  postquam  bellatum  apud  Actium  atque  omnem 
potentiam  ad  unum  conferri  pacis  interfuit,  magna  ilia 
ingenia  cessere;  simul  veritas  pluribus  modis  infracta, 
primum  inscitia  rei  publicae  ut  alienae,  mox  libidine  ad- 
sentandi  aut  rursus  odto  adversus  dominantes ;  ita  neutris 
cura  posteritatis  inter  infensos  vel  obnoxios.  Sed  am- 
bitionem  scriptoris  facile  averseris,  obtrectatio  et  livor 
pronis  auribus  accipiuntur ;  quippe  adulationi  foedum 
crimen  servitutis,  malignitati  falsa  species  libertatis  inest. 
Mihi  Galba  Otho  Vitellius  nee  beneficio  nee  iniuria  cog- 
niti.  Dignitatem  nostram  a  Vespasiano  incohatam,  a  Tito 
auctam,  a  Domitiano  longius  provectam  non  abnuerim: 
sed  incorruptam  fidem  professis  neque  amore  quisquam 
et  sine  odio  dicendus  est.  Quod  si  vita  suppeditet,  prin- 
cipatum  divi  Nervae  et  imperium  Traiani,  uberiorem 
securioremque  materiam,  senectuti  seposui,  rara  temporum 
felicitate,  ubi  sentire  quae  velis  et  quae  sentias  dicere  licet. 

Opus  adgredior  opimum  casibus,  atrox  proeliis,  discors  2 
seditionibus,  ipsa  etiam  pace  saevum:    quattuor  princi- 

B  1 


2  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  2,  3,  4. 

pes  ferro  interempti;  trina  bella  civilia,  plura  externa  ac 
plerumque  permixta;  prosperae  in  Oriente,  adversae  in 
Occidente  res;  turbatum  Illyricum,  Galliae  nutantes, 
perdomita  Britannia  et  statim  missa;  coortae  in  nos 
Sarmatarum  ac  Sueborum  gentes,  nobilitatus  cladibus 
mutuis  Dacus,  mota  prope  etiam  Parthorum  arma  falsi 
Neronis  ludibrio:  iam  vero  Italia  novis  cladibus  vel  post 
longam  saeculorum  seriem  repetitis  adflicta:  hausta  aut 
obruta  fecundissima  Campaniae  ora,  et  urbs  incendiis 
vastata,  consumptis  antiquissimis  delubris,  ipso  Capitolio 
civium  manibus  incenso:  pollutae  caerimoniae,  magna 
adulteria;  plenum  exiliis  mare,  infecti  caedibus  scopuli: 
atrocius  in  urbe  saevitum:  nobilitas,  opes,  omissi  gestique 
honores  pro  crimine,  et  ob  virtutes  certissimum  exitium; 
nee  minus  praemia  delatorum  invisa  quam  scelera,  cum 
alii  sacerdotia  et  consulatus  ut  spolia  adepti,  procura- 
tiones  alii  et  interiorem  potentiam,  agerent  verterent 
cuncta  odio  et  terrore :  corrupti  in  dominos  servi,  in  patro- 
nos  liberti,  et  quibus  deerat  inimicus,  per  amicos  oppressi. 

3  Non  tamen  adeo  virtutum  sterile  saeculum  ut  non  et 
bona   exempla   prodiderit:     comitatae   profugos   liberos 
matres,   secutae  maritos  in  exilia   coniuges;    propinqui 
audentes,   constantes  generi,   contumax  etiam  adversus 
tormenta  servorum  fides;    supremae  clarorum  virorum 
necessitates    fortiter    toleratae    et    laudatis    antiquorum 
mortibus  pares  exitus:   praeter  multiplices  rerum  huma- 
narum  casus  caelo  terraque  prodigia  et  fulminum  monitus 
et  futurorum  praesagia,  laeta  tristia,  ambigua  manifesta; 
nee  enim  umquam  atrocioribus  populi  Romani  cladibus 
magisve  iustis  indiciis  adprobatum  est  non  esse  curae  deis 
securitatem  nostram,  esse  ultionem. 

4  Ceterum  antequam  destinata  componam,  repetendum 


CHAPS.  4,  5.]  HISTORIES  I  3 

videtur,  qualis  status  urbis,  quae  mens  exercituum,  quis 
habitus  provinciarum,  quid  in  toto  terrarum  orbe  validum, 
quid  aegrum  f uerit ;  ut  non  modo  casus  eventusque  rerum, 
qui  plerumque  fortuiti  sunt,  sed  ratio  etiam  causaeque 
noscantur.  Finis  Neronis  ut  laetus  primo  gaudentium 
impetu  fuerat,  ita  varies  motus  animorum,  non  modo  in 
urbe  apud  patres  aut  populum  aut  urbanum  militem  sed 
omnes  legiones  ducesque,  conciverat,  evulgato  imperil 
arcano,  posse  principem  alibi  quam  Romae  fieri.  Sed 
patres  laeti,  usurpata  statim  libertate  licentius,  ut  erga 
principem  novum  et  absentem ;  primores  equitum  proximi 
gaudio  patrum;  pars  populi  integra  et  magnis  domibus 
adnexa,  clientes  libertique  damnatorum  et  exulum  in 
spem  erecti ;  plebs  sordida  et  circo  ac  theatris  sueta,  simul 
deterrimi  servorum,  aut  qui  adesis  bonis  per  dedecus 
Neronis  alebantur,  maesti  et  rumorum  avidi. 

Miles  urbanus  longo  Caesarum  sacramento  inbutus  et  5 
ad  destituendum  Neronem  arte  magis  et  inpulsu  quam  suo 
ingenio  traductus,  postquam  neque  dari  donativum  sub 
nomine  Galbae  promissum  neque  magnis  meritis  ac  prae- 
miis  eundem  in  pace  quern  in  bello  locum  praeventamque 
gratiam  intellegit  apud  principem  a  legionibus  factum, 
pronus  ad  novas  res  scelere  insuper  Nymphidii  Sabini 
praefecti  imperium  sibi  molientis  agitatur.  Et  Nym- 
phidius  quidem  in  ipso  conatu  oppressus,  set  quamvis 
capite  defectionis  ablato  manebat  plerisque  militum  con- 
scientia,  nee  deerant  sermones  senium  atque  avaritiam 
Galbae  increpantium.  Laudata  olim  et  militari  fama 
celebrata  severitas  eius  angebat  aspernantes  veterem  dis- 
ciplinam  atque  ita  quattuordecim  annis  a  Nerone  adsue- 
factos,  ut  baud  minus  vitia  principum  amarent  quam  olim 
virtutes  verebantur.  Accessit  Galbae  vox  pro  re  publica 


4  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  5,  6,  7. 

honesta,  ipsi  anceps,  legi  a  se  militem,  non  emi ;  nee  enim 
ad  hanc  formam  cetera  erant. 

6  Invalidum  senem  Titus  Vinius  et  Cornelius  Laco,  alter 
deterrimus  mortalium,  alter  ignavissimus,  odio  flagitiorum 
oneratum  contemptu  inertiae  destruebant.     Tardum  Gal- 
bae  iter  et  cruentum,  interfectis  Cingonio  Varrone  consule 
designate  et  Petronio  Turpiliano  consulari :   ille  ut  Nym- 
phidi  socius,  hie  ut  dux  Neronis  inauditi  atque  indefensi 
tanquam  innocentes  perierant.     Introitus  in  urbem  tru- 
cidatis  tot  milibus  inermium  militum  infaustus  omine 
atque  ipsis  etiam  qui  occiderant  formidolosus.     Inducta 
legione  Hispana,  remanente  ea  quam  e  classe  Nero  con- 
scripserat,   plena  urbs  exercitu  insolito;    multi  ad  hoc 
numeri  e  Germania  ac  Britannia  et  Illyrico,  quos  idem 
Nero   electos  praemissosque   ad   claustra  Caspiarum   et 
bellum  quod  in  Albanos  parabat,  opprimendis  Vindicis 
coeptis  revocaverat:   ingens  novis  rebus  materia,  ut  non 
in  unum  aliquem  prono  favore,  ita  audenti  parata. 

7  Forte  congruerat  ut  Clodii  Macri  et  Fontei  Capitonis 
caedes  nuntiarentur.    Macrum  in  Africa  baud  dubie  tur- 
bantem  Trebonius  Garutianus  procurator  iussu  Galbae, 
Capitonem  in  Germania,  cum  similia  coeptaret,  Cornelius 
Aquinus  et  Fabius  Valens  legati  legionum  interfecerant 
antequam  iuberentur.     Fuere  qui  crederent  Capitonem  ut 
avaritia  et  libidine  foedum  ac  maculosum,  ita  cogitatione 
rerum  novarum  abstinuisse,  sed  a  legatis  bellum  suaden- 
tibus,  postquam  inpellere  nequiverint,  crimen  ac  dolum 
ultro  compositum,  et  Galbam  mobilitate  ingenii,  an  ne 
altius  scrutaretur,  quoquo  modo  acta,  quia  mutari  non 
poterant,  comprobasse.     Ceterum  utraque  caedes  sinistre 
accepta,  et  inviso  semel  principi  seu  bene  seu  male  facta 
parem.  invidiam  adferebant.  Venalia  cuncta,  praepotentes 


CHAPS.  7,  8,  9.]  HISTORIES  I  5 

liberti,  servorum  manus  subitis  avidae  et  tanquam  apud 
senem  festinantes,  eademque  novae  aulae  mala,  aeque 
gravia,  non  aeque  excusata.  Ipsa  aetas  Galbae  inrisui  ac 
fastidio  erat  adsuetis  iuventae  Neronis  et  imperatores 
forma  ac  decore  corporis,  ut  est  mos  vulgi,  comparantibus. 

Et  hie  quidem  Romae,  tanquam  in  tanta  multitudine,  8 
habitus  animorum  fuit.  E  provinciis  Hispaniae  praeerat 
Cluvius  Rufus,  vir  facundus  et  pacis  artibus,  bellis  in- 
expertus.  Galliae  super  memoriam  Vindicis  obligatae 
recent!  dono  Romanae  civitatis  et  in  posterum  tributi 
levamento.  Proximae  tamen  Germanicis  exercitibus  Gal- 
liarum  civitates  non  eodem  honore  habitae,  quaedam  etiam 
finibus  ademptis  pari  dolore  commoda  aliena  ac  suas  in- 
iurias  metiebantur.  Germanici  exercitus,  quod  periculosis- 
simum  in  tantis  viribus,  solliciti  et  irati  superbia  recentis 
victoriae  et  metu,  tanquam  alias  partes  fovissent.  Tarde 
a  Nerone  desciverant,  nee  statim  pro  Galba  Verginius. 
An  imperare  noluisset  dubium:  delatum  ei  a  milite  im- 
perium  conveniebat.  Fonteium  Capitonem  occisum  etiam 
qui  queri  non  poterant,  tamen  indignabantur.  Dux 
deerat,  abducto  Verginio  per  simulationem  amicitiae; 
quern  non  remitti  atque  etiam  reum  esse  tanquam  suum 
crimen  accipiebant. 

Superior  exercitus  legatum  Hordeonium  Flaccum  sper-  9 
nebat,  senecta  ac  debilitate  pedum  invalidum,  sine  con- 
stantia,  sine  auctoritate ;  ne  quieto  quidem  milite  regimen : 
adeo  furentes  infirmitate  retinentis  ultro  accendebantur. 
Inferioris  Germaniae  legiones  diutius  sine  consulari  fuere, 
donee  missu  Galbae  A.  Vitellius  aderat,  censoris  Vitellii 
ac  ter  consulis  filius:  id  satis  videbatur.  In  Britannico 
exercitu  nihil  irarum:  non  sane  aliae  legiones  per  omnes 
civilium  bellorum  motus  innocentius  egerunt,  seu  quia 


6  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  9,  10,  11. 

procul  et  Oceano  divisae,  seu  crebris  expeditionibus  doctae 
hostem  potius  odisse.  Quies  et  Illyrico,  quanquam  ex- 
citae  a  Nerone  legiones,  dum  in  Italia  cunctantur,  Ver- 
ginium  legationibus  adissent.  Sed  longis  spatiis  discreti 
exercitus,  quod  saluberrimum  est  ad  continendam  mili- 
tarem  fidem,  nee  vitiis  nee  viribus  miscebantur. 

10  Oriens  adhuc  inmotus.     Syriam  et  quattuor  legiones 
obtinebat   Licinius  Mucianus,   vir   secundis   adversisque 
iuxta    famosus.     Insignes    amicitias    iuvenis    ambitiose 
coluerat;  mox   attritis   opibus,    lubrico    statu,    suspecta 
etiam  Claudii  iracundia,  in  secretum  Asiae  sepositus  tarn 
prope  ab  exule  fuit  quam  postea  a  principe.     Luxuria 
industria,   comitate  adrogantia,   malis  bonisque  artibus 
mixtus ;     nimiae    voluptates,    cum    vacaret  :     quotiens 
expedierat,   magnae   virtutes.     Palam   laudares,    secreta 
male  audiebant:    sed   apud  subiectos,   apud  proximos, 
apud  collegas  variis  illecebris  potens,  et  cui  expeditius 
fuerit  tradere  imperium  quam  obtinere.   Bellum  ludaicum 
Flavius  Vespasianus  (ducem  eum  Nero  delegerat)  tribus 
legionibus  administrabat.    Nee  Vespasiano  adversus  Gal- 
bam  votum  aut  animus :  quippe  Titum  filium  ad  venera- 
tionem  cultumque  eius  miserat,  ut  suo  loco  memorabimus. 
Occulta  fati  et  ostentis  ac  responsis  destinatum  Vespa- 
siano liberisque  eius  imperium  post  fortunam  credidimus. 

11  Aegyptum  copiasque  quibus  coerceretur  iam  inde  a 
divo  Augusto  equites  Romani  obtinent  loco  regum:    ita 
visum   expedire,    provinciam    aditu    difficilem,    annonae 
fecundam,  superstitione  ac  lascivia  discordem  et  mobilem, 
insciam  legum,   ignaram  magistratuum,   domi   retinere. 
Regebat    turn    Tiberius    Alexander    eiusdem    nationis. 
Africa  ac  legio  in  ea  interfecto  Clodio  Macro  contenta 
qualicumque  principe  post  experimentum  domini  minoris. 


CHAPS.  11,  12,  13.]  HISTORIES   I  7 

Duae  Mauretaniae,  Raetia,  Noricum,  Thracia  et  quae  aliae 
procuratoribus  cohibentur,  ut  cuique  exercitui  vicinae,  ita 
in  favorem  aut  odium  contactu  valentiorum  agebantur. 
Inermes  provinciae  atque  ipsa  in  primis  Italia,  cuicumque 
servitio  exposita,  in  pretium  belli  cessurae  erant.  Hie  fuit 
rerum  Romanarum  status,  cum  Servius  Galba  iterum  Titus 
Vinius  consules  incohavere  annum  sibi  ultimum,  rei  pub- 
licae  prope  supremum. 

Faucis  post  kalendas  lanuarias  diebus  Pompei  Propin- 12 
qui  procuratoris  e  Belgica  litterae  adferuntur,  superioris 
Germaniae  legiones  rupta  sacramenti  reverentia  impera- 
torem  alium  flagitare,  et  senatui  ac  populo  Romano  arbi- 
trium  eligendi  permittere,  quo  seditio  mollius  acciperetur. 
Maturavit  ea  res  consilium  Galbae  iam  pridem  de  adop- 
tione  secum  et  cum  proximis  agitantis.  Non  sane  cre- 
brior  tota  civitate  sermo  per  illos  menses  fuerat,  primum 
licentia  ac  libidine  talia  loquendi,  dein  fessa  iam  aetate 
Galbae.  Paucis  iudicium  aut  rei  publicae  amor:  multi 
stulta  spe,  prout  quis  amicus  vel  cliens,  hunc  vel  ilium 
ambitiosis  rumoribus  destinabant,  etiam  in  Titi  Vini 
odium,  qui  in  dies  quanto  potentior,  eodem  actu  invisior 
erat.  Quippe  hiantes  in  magna  fortuna  amicorum  cupidi- 
tates  ipsa  Galbae  facilitas  intendebat,  cum  apud  infirmum 
et  credulum  minore  metu  et  maiore  praemio  peccaretur. 

Potentia  principatus  divisa  in  Titum  Vinium  consulem,  13 
Cornelium  Laconem  praetorii  praefectum;  nee  minor 
gratia  Icelo  Galbae  liberto,  quern  anulis  donatum  equestri 
nomine  Marcianum  vocitabant.  Hi  discordes  et  rebus  mi- 
noribus  sibi  quisque  tendentes,  circa  consilium  eligendi 
successoris  in  duas  factiones  scindebantur.  Vinius  pro 
M.  Othone,  Laco  atque  Icelus  consensu  non  tarn  unum 
aliquem  fovebant  quam  alium.  Neque  erat  Galbae  ignota 


8  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  13,  14,  15. 

Othonis  ac  Titi  Vini  amicitia ;  et  rumoribus  nihil  silentio 
transmittentium,  quia  Vinio  vidua  filia,  caelebs  Otho, 
gener  ac  socer  destinabantur.  Credo  et  rei  publicae  curam 
subisse,  frustra  a  Nerone  translatae,  si  apud  Othonem 
relinqueretur.  Namque  Otho  pueritiam  incuriose,  adu- 
lescentiam  petulanter  egerat,  gratus  Neroni  aemulatione 
luxus.  Eoque  Poppaeam  Sabinam,  principale  scortum, 
ut  apud  conscium  libidinum  deposuerat,  donee  Octaviam 
uxorem  amoliretur.  Mox  suspectum  in  eadem  Poppaea 
in  provinciam  Lusitaniam  specie  legationis  seposuit. 
Otho  comiter  administrata  provincia  primus  in  partes 
transgressus  nee,  donee  bellum  fuit,  segnis  et  inter  prae- 
sentes  splendidissimus,  spem  adoptionis  statim  conceptam 
acrius  in  dies  rapiebat,  faventibus  plerisque  militum, 
prona  in  eum  aula  Neronis  ut  similem. 

14  Sed  Galba  post  nuntios  Germanicae  seditionis,  quan- 
quam  nihil  adhuc  de  Vitellio   certum,   anxius  quonam 
exercituum  vis  erumperet,  ne  urbano  quidem  militi  con- 
fisus,  quod  remedium  unicum  rebatur,   comitia  imperii 
transigit;    adhibitoque  super  Vinium  ac  Laconem  Mario 
Celso   consule  designate   ac  Ducenio  Gemino  praefecto 
urbis,  pauca  praefatus  de  sua  senectute,  Pisonem  Licini- 
anum  arcessi  iubet,  seu  propria  electione  sive,  ut  quidam 
crediderunt,  Lacone  instante,  cui  apud  Rubellium  Plautum 
exercita  cum  Pisone  amicitia ;    sed  callide  ut  ignotum  fo- 
vebat,  et  prospera  de   Pisone  fama  consilio   eius  fidem 
addiderat.     Piso  M.  Crasso  et  Scribonia  genitus,  nobilis 
utrimque,  vultu  habituque  moris  antiqui,  ex  aestimatione 
recta  severus,  deterius  interpretantibus  tristior  habebatur : 
ea  pars  morum  eius,  quo  suspectior  sollicitis,  adoptanti 
placebat. 

15  Igitur  Galba,  adprehensa  Pisonis  manu,  in  hunc  mo- 


CHAPS.  15,  16.]  HISTORIES   I  9 

dum  locutus  f ertur :  '  Si  te  privatus  lege  curiata  apud  pon- 
tifices,  ut  moris  est,  adoptarem,  et  mihi  egregium  erat  Cn. 
Pompei  et  M.  Crassi  subolem  in  penates  meos  adsciscere, 
et  tibi  insigne  Sulpiciae  ac  Lutatiae  decora  nobilitati  tuae 
adiecisse:  nunc  me  deorum  hominumque  consensu  ad 
imperium  vocatum  praeclara  indoles  tua  et  amor  patriae 
impulit,  ut  principatum,  de  quo  maiores  nostri  armis 
certabant,  bello  adeptus  quiescenti  offeram,  exemplo  divi 
Augusti,  qui  sororis  filium  Marcellum,  dein  generum 
Agrippam,  mox  nepotes  suos,  postremo  Tiberium  Neronem 
privignum  in  proximo  sibi  fastigio  conlocavit.  Sed  Au- 
gustus in  domo  successorem  quaesivit,  ego  in  re  publica, 
non  quia  propinquos  aut  socios  belli  non  habeam,  sed  neque 
ipse  imperium  ambitione  accepi,  et  iudicii  mei  documentum 
sit  non  meae  tantum  necessitudines,  quas  tibi  postposui, 
sed  et  tuae.  Est  tibi  frater  pari  nobilitate,  natu  maior, 
dignus  hac  fortuna,  nisi  tu  potior  esses.  Ea  aetas  tua 
quae  cupiditates  adulescentiae  iam  effugerit,  ea  vita  in 
qua  nihil  praeteritum  excusandum  habeas.  Fortunam 
adhuc  tantum  adversam  tulisti:  secundae  res  acrioribus 
stimulis  animos  explorant,  quia  miseriae  tolerantur, 
felicitate  corrumpimur.  Fidem  libertatem  amicitiam, 
praecipua  humani  animi  bona,  tu  quidem  eadem  constantia 
retinebis,  sed  alii  per  obsequium  imminuent:  inrumpet 
adulatio  blanditia  et,  pessimum  veri  adfectus  venenum, 
sua  cuique  utilitas.  Etiam  si  ego  ac  tu  simplicissime  inter 
nos  hodie  loquimur,  ceteri  libentius  cum  fortuna  nostra 
quam  nobiscum;  nam  suadere  principi  quod  oporteat, 
multi  laboris:  adsentatio  erga  quemcumque  principem 
sine  adfectu  peragitur.' 

'  Si  inmensum  imperii  corpus  stare  ac  librari  sine  rectore  16 
posset,  dignus  eram  a  quo  res  publica  inciperet :   nunc  eo 


10  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  16,  17- 

necessitatis  iam  pridem  ventum  est,  ut  nee  mea  senectus 
conferre  plus  populo  Romano  possit  quam  bonum  suc- 
cessorem,  nee  tua  plus  iuventa  quam  bonum  principem. 
Sub  Tiberio  et  Gaio  et  Claudio  unius  familiae  quasi  heredi- 
tas  fuimus:  loco  libertatis  erit  quod  eligi  coepimus;  et 
finita  luliorum  Claudiorumque  domo  optimum  quemque 
adoptio  inveniet.  Nam  generari  et  nasci  a  principibus 
fortuitum,  nee  ultra  aestimatur:  adoptandi  iudicium 
integrum,  et  si  velis  eligere,  consensu  monstratur.  Sit 
ante  oculos  Nero,  quern  longa  Caesarum  serie  tumentem 
non  Vindex  cum  inermi  provincia  aut  ego  cum  una  legiones 
sed  sua  immanitas,  sua  luxuria  cervicibus  publicis  depu- 
lerunt;  neque  erat  adhuc  damnati  principis  exemplum. 
Nos  bello  et  ab  aestimantibus  adsciti  cum  invidia  quamvis 
egregii  erimus.  Ne  tamen  territus  fueris,  si  duae  legiones 
in  hoc  concussi  orb  is  motu  nondum  quiescunt:  ne  ipse 
quidem  ad  securas  res  accessi,  et  audita  adoptione  desinam 
videri  senex,  quod  nunc  mihi  unum  obicitur.  Nero  a 
pessimo  quoque  semper  desiderabitur :  mihi  ac  tibi  provi- 
dendum  est  ne  etiam  a  bonis  desideretur.  Monere  diutius 
neque  temporis  huius,  et  impletum  est  omne  consilium,  si 
te  bene  elegi.  Utilissimus  idem  ac  brevissimus  bonarum 
malarumque  rerum  dilectus  est  cogitare  quid  aut  volueris 
sub  alio  principe  aut  nolueris ;  neque  enim  hie,  ut  gentibus 
quae  regnantur,  certa  dominorum  domus  et  ceteri  servi, 
sed  imperaturus  es  hominibus  qui  nee  totam  servitutem 
pati  possunt  nee  totam  libertatem.'  Et  Galba  quidem 
haec  ac  talia,  tanquam  principem  faceret,  ceteri  tanquam 
cum  facto  loquebantur. 

17  Pisonem  ferunt  statim  intuentibus  et  mox  coniectis 
in  eum  omnium  oculis  nullum  turbati  aut  exsultantis 
animi  motum  prodidisse.  Sermo  erga  patrem  imperato- 


CHAPS.  17,  18,  19.]  HISTORIES  I  11 

remque  reverens,  de  se  moderatus;  nihil  in  vultu  habitu- 
que  mutatum,  quasi  imperare  posset  magis  quam  vellet. 
Consultatum  hide,  pro  rostris  an  in  senatu  an  in  castris 
adoptio  nuncuparetur.  Iri  in  castra  placuit :  honorificum 
id  militibus  fore,  quorum  favorem  ut  largitione  et  ambitu 
male  adquiri,  ita  per  bonas  artes  haud  spernendum. 
Circumsteterat  interim  Palatium  publica  expectatio  magni 
secreti  inpatiens;  et  male  coercitam  famam  supprimentes 
augebant. 

Quartum  idus  lanuarias,  foedum  imbribus  diem,  toni-  is 
trua  et  fulgura  et  caelestes  minae  ultra  solitum  turba- 
verant.  Observatum  id  antiquitus  comitiis  dirimendis 
non  terruit  Galbam  quo  minus  in  castra  pergeret,  con- 
temptorem  talium  ut  fortuitorum;  seu  quae  fato  manent, 
quamvis  significata,  non  vitantur.  Apud  frequentem 
militum  contionem  imperatoria  brevitate  adoptari  a  se 
Pisonem  exemplo  divi  Augusti  et  more  militari,  quo  vir 
virum  legeret,  pronuntiat.  Ac  ne  dissimulata  seditio  in 
maius  crederetur,  ultro  adseverat  quartam  et  duoet- 
vicensimam  legiones  paucis  seditionis  auctoribus  non  ultra 
verba  ac  voces  errasse  et  brevi  in  officio  fore.  Nee  ullum 
orationi  aut  lenocinium  addit  aut  pretium.  Tribuni 
tamen  centurionesque  et  proximi  militum  grata  auditu 
respondent:  per  ceteros  maestitia  ac  silentium,  tanquam 
usurpatam  etiam  in  pace  donativi  necessitatem  bello 
perdidissent.  Constat  potuisse  conciliari  animos  quan- 
tulacumque  parci  senis  liberalitate :  nocuit  antiquus 
rigor  et  nimia  severitas,  cui  iam  pares  non  sumus. 

Inde  apud  senatum  non  comptior  Galbae,  non  longior  19 
quam   apud   militem   sermo:     Pisonis.  comis   oratio;    et 
patrum  favor  aderat,  multi  voluntate,  effusius  qui  nolu- 
erant,   medii   ac   plurimi   obvio   obsequio,   privatas  spes 


12  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  19, 20, 21. 

agitantes  sine  publica  cura.  Nee  aliud  sequent!  quadriduo, 
quod  medium  inter  adoptionem  et  caedem  fuit,  dictum  a 
Pisone  in  publico  factumve.  Crebrioribus  in  dies  Ger- 
manicae  defectionis  nuntiis  et  facili  civitate  ad  accipienda 
credendaque  omnia  nova,  cum  tristia  sunt,  censuerant 
patres  mittendos  ad  Germanicum  exercitum  legates. 
Agitatum  secreto  num  et  Piso  proficisceretur,  maiore 
praetextu,  illi  auctoritatem  senatus,  hie  dignationem 
Caesaris  laturus.  Placebat  et  Laconem  praetorii  prae- 
fectum  simul  mitti :  is  consilio  intercessit.  Legati  quoque 
(nam  senatus  electionem  Galbae  permiserat)  foeda  in- 
constantia  nominati  excusati  substituti,  ambitu  remanendi 
aut  eundi,  ut  quemque  metus  vel  spes  inpulerat. 

20  Proxima  pecuniae  cura;  et  cuncta  scrutantibus  iustis- 
simum  visum  est  inde  repeti  ubi  inopiae  causa  erat.     Bis 
et  vicies  milies  sestertium  donationibus  Nero  effuderat. 
Appellari  singulos  iussit,  decuma  parte  liberalitatis  apud 
quemque   eorum   relicta.     At    illis    vix    decumae    super 
portiones  erant,  isdem  erga  aliena  sumptibus  quibus  sua 
prodegerant,  cum  rapacissimo  cuique  ac  perditissimo  non 
agri  aut  faenus,  sed  sola  instrumenta  vitiorum  manerent. 
Exaction!   triginta    equites    Romani    praepositi,    novum 
officii  genus  et  ambitu  ac  numero  onerosum ;  ubique  hasta 
et  sector,  et  inquieta  urbs  actionibus.     Ac  tamen  grande 
gaudium  quod  tarn  pauperes  forent  quibus  donasset  Nero 
quam  quibus  abstulisset.  Exauctorati  per  eos  dies  tribuni, 
e  praetorio  Antonius  Taurus  et  Antonius  Naso,  ex  urbanis 
cohortibus  Aemilius  Pacensis,  e  vigilibus  lulius  Fronto. 
Nee  remedium  in  ceteros  fuit,  sed  metus  initium,  tanquam 
per  artem  et  formidine  singuli  pellerentur  omnibus  sus- 
pectis. 

21  Interea   Othonem,    cui    compositis    rebus    nulla   spes, 


CHAPS.  21,  22.]  HISTORIES  I  13 

omne  in  turbido  consilium,  multa  simul  exstimulabant, 
luxuria  etiam  principi  onerosa,  inopia  vix  private  tole- 
randa,  in  Galbam  ira,  in  Pisonem  invidia;  fingebat  et 
metum,  quo  magis  concupisceret :  praegravem  se  Neroni 
fuisse,  nee  Lusitaniam  rursus  et  alterius  exilii  honorem 
expectandum.  Suspectum  semper  invisumque  dominan- 
tibus  qui  proximus  destinaretur.  Nocuisse  id  sibi  apud 
senem  principem,  magis  nociturum  apud  iuvenem  ingenio 
trucem  et  longo  exilio  efferatum.  Occidi  Othonem  posse. 
Proinde  agendum  audendumque,  dum  Galbae  auctoritas 
fluxa,  Pisonis  nondum  coaluisset.  Opportunos  magnis 
conatibus  transitus  rerum,  nee  cunctatione  opus,  ubi 
perniciosior  sit  quies  quam  temeritas.  Mortem  omnibus 
ex  natura  aequalem  oblivione  apud  posteros  vel  gloria 
distingui;  ac  si  nocentem  innocentemque  idem  exitus 
maneat,  acrioris  viri  esse  merito  perire. 

Non  erat  Othonis  mollis  et  corpori  similis  animus;  et22 
intimi  libertorum  servorumque,  corruptius  quam  in  privata 
domo  habiti,  aulam  Neronis  et  luxus,  adulteria  matri- 
monia  ceterasque  regnorum  libidines  avido  talium,  si 
auderet,  ut  sua  ostentantes,  quiescenti  ut  aliena  expro- 
brabant,  urguentibus  etiam  mathematicis,  dum  novos 
motus  et  clarum  Othoni  annum  observatione  siderum 
adfirmant,  genus  hominum  potentibus  infidum,  speranti- 
bus  fallax,  quod  in  civitate  nostra  et  vetabitur  semper 
et  retinebitur.  Multos  secreta  Poppaeae  mathematicos, 
pessimum  principalis  matrimonii  instrumentum,  habu- 
erant;  e  quibus  Ptolemaeus  Othoni  in  Hispania  comes, 
cum  superfuturum  eum  Neroni  promisisset,  postquam  ex 
eventu  fides,  coniectura  iam  et  rumore  senium  Galbae  et 
iuventam  Othonis  computantium  persuaserat  fore  ut  in 
imperium  adscisceretur.  Sed  Otho  tanquam  peritia  et 


14  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  22,  23,  24,  25. 

monitu  fatorurn  praedicta  accipiebat,  cupidine  ingenii 
human!  libentius  obscura  credendi.  Nee  deerat  Ptole- 
maeus,  iam  et  sceleris  instinctor,  ad  quod  facillime  ab 
eius  modi  voto  transitur. 

23  Sed  sceleris  cogitatio  incertum  an  repens :   studia  mill- 
turn  iam  pridem  spe   successionis   aut  paratu  facinoris 
adfectaverat,  in  itinere,  in  agmine,  in  stationibus  vetus- 
tissimum  quemque   militum  nomine  vocans  ac  memoria 
Neroniani    comitatus    contubernales    appellando;     alios 
adgnoscere,    quosdam   requirere   et    pecunia    aut    gratia 
iuvare,  inserendo  saepius  querellas  et  ambiguos  de  Galba 
sermones,     quaeque     alia    turbamenta     vulgi.     Labores 
itinerum,  inopia  eommeatuum,  duritia  imperil  atrocius 
accipiebantur,  cum    Campaniae    lacus  et  Achaiae  urbes 
classibus  adire  soliti   Pyrenaeum  et   Alpes  et  inmensa 
viarum  spatia  aegre  sub  armis  eniterentur. 

24  Flagrantibus  iam  militum  animis  velut  faces  addiderat 
Maevius  Pudens,  e  proximis  Tigellini.     Is  mobilissimum 
quemque  ingenio  aut  pecuniae  indigum  et  in  novas  cupidi- 
tates  praecipitem  adliciendo  eo  paulatim  progressus  est, 
ut  per  speciem  convivii,  quotiens  Galba  apud  Othonem 
epularetur,  cohorti  excubias  agenti  viritim  centenos  num- 
mos  divideret;    quam  velut  publicam  largitionem  Otho 
secretioribus   apud   singulos   praemiis   intendebat,    adeo 
animosus  corruptor,  ut  Cocceio  Proculo  speculator!,  de 
parte   finium   cum   vicino    ambigenti,    universum   vicini 
agrum  sua  pecunia  emptum  dono  dederit,  per  socordiam 
praefecti,  quern  nota  pariter  et  occulta  fallebant. 

25  Sed  turn  e  libertis  Onomastum  futuro  sceleri  praefecit, 
a  quo  Barbium  Proculum  tesserarium  speculatorum  et 
Veturium  optionem  eorundem  perductos,  postquam  vario 
sermone  callidos  audacesque  cognovit,  pretio  et  promissis 


CHAPS.  25,  26,  27.]  HISTORIES   I  15 

onerat,  data  pecunia  ad  pertemptandos  plurium  animos. 
Suscepere  duo  manipulares  imperium  populi  Roman! 
transferendum,  et  transtulerunt.  In  conscientiam  faci- 
noris  pauci  adsciti :  suspenses  ceterorum  animos  diversis 
artibus  stimulant,  primores  militum  per  beneficia  Nym- 
phidi  ut  suspectos,  vulgus  et  ceteros  ira  et  desperatione 
dilati  totiens  donativi.  Erant  quos  memoria  Neronis  ac 
desiderium  prioris  licentiae  accenderet:  in  commune 
omnes  metu  mutandae  militiae  terrebantur. 

Infecit  ea  tabes  legionum  quoque  et  auxiliorum  motas  26 
iam  mentes,  postquam  vulgatum  erat  labare  Germanici 
exercitus  fidem ;  adeoque  parata  apud  malos  seditio,  etiam 
apud  integros  dissimulatio  fuit,  ut  postero  iduum  die 
redeuntem  a  cena  Othonem  rapturi  fuerint,  ni  incerta 
noctis  et  tota  urbe  sparsa  militum  castra  nee  facilem  inter 
temulentos  consensum  timuissent,  non  rei  publicae  cura, 
quam  foedare  principis  sui  sanguine  sobrii  parabant,  sed 
ne  per  tenebras,  ut  quisque  Pannonici  vel  Germanici 
exercitus  militibus  oblatus  esset,  ignorantibus  plerisque, 
pro  Othone  destinaretur.  Multa  erumpentis  seditionis 
indicia  per  conscios  oppressa:  quaedam  apud  Galbae 
aures  praefectus  Laco  elusit,  ignarus  militarium  animorum 
consiliique  quamvis  egregii,  quod  non  ipse  adferret,  ini- 
micus  et  adversus  peritos  pervicax. 

Octavo  decimo  kalendas  Februarias  sacrificanti  pro  27 
aede  Apollinis  Galbae  haruspex  Umbricius  tristia  exta  et 
instantes  insidias  ac  domesticum  hostem  praedicit,  audi- 
ente  Othone  (nam  proximus  adstiterat)  idque  ut  laetum  e 
contrario  et  suis  cogitationibus  prosperum  interpretante. 
Nee  multo  post  libertus  Onomastus  nuntiat  expectari  eum 
ab  architecto  et  redemptoribus,  quae  significatio  coeuntium 
iam  militum  et  paratae  coniurationis  convenerat.  Otho 


16  TACITUS  CHAPS.  27,  28,  29. 

causam  digressus  requirentibus  cum  emi  sibi  praedia 
vetustate  suspecta  eoque  prius  exploranda  finxisset, 
innixus  liberto  per  Tiberianam  domum  in  Velabrum,  inde 
ad  miliarium  aureum  sub  aedem  Saturni  pergit.  Ibi  tres 
et  viginti  speculatores  consalutatum  imperatorem  ac 
paucitate  salutantium  trepidum  et  sellae  festinanter  im- 
positum  strictis  mucronibus  rapiunt;  totidem  ferme 
milites  in  itinere  adgregantur,  alii  conscientia,  plerique 
miraculo,  pars  clamore  et  gaudiis,  pars  silentio,  animum 
ex  eventu  sumpturi. 

28  Stationem  in  castris  agebat  lulius  Martialis  tribunus. 
Is  magnitudine  subiti  sceleris,  an  corrupta  latius  castra  et, 
si  contra  tenderet,  exitium  metuens,  praebuit  plerisque 
suspicionem    conscientiae ;     anteposuere    ceteri    quoque 
tribuni  centurionesque  praesentia  dubiis  et  honestis,  isque 
habitus  animorum  fuit  ut  pessimum  facinus  auderent 
pauci,  plures  vellent,  omnes  paterentur. 

29  Ignarus   interim   Galba   et    sacris    intentus  fatigabat 
alieni  iam  imperii  decs,  cum  adfertur  rumor  rapi  in  castra 
incertum  quern  senatorem,  mox  Othonem  esse  qui  rape- 
retur;   simul  ex  tota  urbe,  ut  quisque  obvius  fuerat,  alii 
formidine  augentes,  quidam  minora  vero,  ne  turn  quidem 
obliti  adulationis.     Igitur  consultantibus  placuit  pertemp- 
tari  animum  cohortis  quae  in  Palatio  stationem  agebat, 
nee  per  ipsum  Galbam,  cuius  integra  auctoritas  maioribus 
remediis  servabatur.     Piso  pro  gradibus  domus  vocatos 
in  hunc  modum  adlocutus  est :  '  Sextus  dies  agitur,  com- 
militones,  ex  quo  ignarus  futuri,  et  sive  optandum  hoc 
nomen  sive  timendum  erat,  Caesar  adscitus  sum,  quo 
domus  nostrae  aut  rei  publicae  fato,  in  vestra  manu  posi- 
tum  est ;  non  quia  meo  nomine  tristiorem  casum  paveam, 
ut  qui  adversas  res  expertus  cum  maxime  discam  ne 
secundas   quidem  minus  discriminis  habere:    patris  et 


CHAPS.  29,  30.1  HISTORIES   I  17 

senatus  et  ipsius  imperil  vicem  doleo,  si  nobis  aut  perire 
hodie  necesse  est  aut,  quod  aeque  apud  bonos  miserum 
est,  occidere.  Solatium  proximi  motus  habebamus  in- 
cruentam  urbem  et  res  sine  discordia  translatas:  pro- 
visum  adoptione  videbatur  ut  ne  post  Galbam  quidem 
bello  locus  esset.' 

'  Nihi  ladrogabo  mihi  nobilitatis  aut  modestiae ;  neque  3O 
enim  relatu  virtutum  in  comparatione  Othonis  opus  est. 
Vitia,  quibus  soils  gloriatur,  evertere  imperium  etiam  cum 
ami  cum  imperatoris  ageret.  Habitune  et  incessu  an  illo 
muliebri  ornatu  mereretur  imperium?  Falluntur  quibus 
luxuria  specie  liberalitatis  inponit :  perdere  iste  sciet, 
donare  nesciet.  Stupra  nunc  et  comissationes  et  femi- 
narum  coetus  volvit  animo:  haec  principatus  praemia 
putat,  quorum  libido  ac  voluptas  penes  ipsum  sit,  rubor 
ac  dedecus  penes  omnes.  Nemo  enim  umquam  imperium 
flagitio  quaesitum  bonis  artibus  exercuit.  Galbam  con- 
sensus generis  humani,  me  Galba  consentientibus  vobis 
Caesarem  dixit.  Si  res  publica  et  senatus  et  populus 
vacua  nomina  sunt,  vestra,  commilitones,  interest  ne  im- 
peratorem  pessimi  faciant.  Legionum  seditio  adversus 
duces  suos  audita  est  aliquando :  vestra  fides  famaque 
inlaesa  ad  hunc  diem  mansit.  Et  Nero  quoque  vos  desti- 
tuit,  non  vos  Neronem.  Minus  triginta  transfugae  et 
desertores,  quos  centurionem  aut  tribunum  sibi  eligentes 
nemo  ferret,  imperium  adsignabunt?  Admittitis  exem- 
plum  et  quiescendo  commune  crimen  facitis  ?  Transcendet 
haec  licentia  in  provincias,  et  ad  nos  scelerum  exitus, 
beilorum  ad  vos  pertinebunt.  Nee  est  plus  quod  pro 
caede  principis  quam  quod  innocentibus  datur,  sed  perinde 
a  nobis  donativum  ob  fidem  quam  ab  aliis  pro  facinore 
accipietis.' 


18  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  31,  32. 

31  Dilapsis  speculatoribus  cetera  cohors  non  aspernata 
contionantem,  ut  turbidis  rebus  evenit,  forte  magis  et 
nullo  adhuc  consilio  rapit  signa  quam,  quod  postea  credi- 
tum  est,  insidiis  et  simulatione.  Missus  et  Celsus  Marius 
ad  electos  Illyrici  exercitus  Vipsania  in  porticu  tendentes  ; 
praeceptum  Amulio  Sereno  et  Domitio  Sabino  primi- 
pilaribus,  ut  Germanicos  milites  e  Libertatis  atrio  accer- 
serent.  Legioni  classicae  diffidebatur,  infestae  ob  caedem 
commilitonum,  quos  primo  statim  introitu  trucidaverat 
Galba.  Pergunt  etiam  in  castra  praetorianorum  tribuni 
Cetrius  Severus,  Subrius  Dexter,  Pompeius  Longinus,  si 
incipiens  adhuc  et  necdum  adulta  seditio  melioribus  con- 
siliis  flecteretur.  Tribunorum  Subrium  et  Cetrium  adorti 
milites  minis,  Longinum  manibus  coercent  exarmantque, 
quia  non  ordine  militiae,  sed  e  Galbae  amicis,  fidus  principi 
suo  et  desciscentibus  suspectior  erat.  Legio  classica  nihil 
cunctata  praetorianis  adiungitur :  Illyrici  exercitus  electi 
Celsum  infestis  pilis  proturbant.  Germanica  vexilla  diu 
nutavere,  invalidis  adhuc  corporibus  et  placatis  animis, 
quod  eos  a  Nerone  Alexandriam  praemissos  atque  inde 
rursus  longa  navigatione  aegros  inpensiore  cura  Galba 
refovebat. 

32  Universa  iam  plebs  Palatium  implebat,  mixtis  servi- 
tiis  et  dissono  clamore  caedem  Othonis  et  coniuratorum 
exitium  poscentium,  ut  si  in  circo  aut  theatro  ludicrum 
aliquod  postularent:  neque  illis  iudicium  aut  veritas, 
quippe  eodem  die  diversa  pari  certamine  postulaturis,  sed 
tradito  more  quemcunque  principem  adulandi  licentia  ad- 
clamationum  et  studiis  inanibus. 

Interim  Galbam  duae  sententiae  distinebant.  Titus 
Vinius  manendum  intra  domum,  opponenda  servitia, 
firmandos  aditus,  non  eundum  ad  iratos  censebat :  daret 


CHAPS.  32,  33,  34,  35.]        HISTORIES   I  19 

malorum  paenitentiae,  daret  bonorum  consensui  spatium : 
scelera  impetu,  bona  consilia  mora  valescere;  denique 
eundi  ultro,  si  ratio  sit,  eandem  mox  facultatem,  regressus, 
si  paeniteat,  in  aliena  potestate. 

Festinandum  ceteris  videbatur,  antequam  cresceretss 
invalida  adhuc  coniuratio  paucorum :  trepidaturum  etiam 
Othonem,  qui  furtim  digressus,  ad  ignaros  inlatus,  cunc- 
tatione  mine  et  segnitia  terentium  tempus  imitari  prin- 
cipem  discat.  Non  expectandum  ut  compositis  castris 
forum  invadat  et  prospectante  Galba  Capitolium  adeat, 
dum  egregius  imperator  cum  fortibus  amicis  ianua  ac 
limine  tenus  domum  cludit,  obsidionem  nimirum  tolera- 
turus.  Et  praeclarum  in  servis  auxilium,  si  consensus 
tantae  multitudinis  et,  quae  plurimum  valet,  prima 
indignatio  elanguescat.  Perinde  intuta  quae  indecora; 
vel  si  cadere  necesse  sit,  occurrendum  discrimini:  id 
Othoni  invidiosius  et  ipsis  honestum.  Repugnantem  huic 
sententiae  Vinium  Laco  minaciter  invasit,  stimulante 
Icelo  privati  odii  pertinacia  in  publicum  exitium. 

Nee  diutius  Galba  cunctatus  speciosiora  suadentibus  34 
accessit.  Praemissus  tamen  in  castra  Piso,  ut  iuvenis 
magno  nomine,  recenti  favore  et  infensus  Tito  Vinio,  seu 
quia  erat  seu  quia  irati  ita  volebant;  et  facilius  de  odio 
creditur.  •  Vixdum  egresso  Pisone  occisum  in  castris 
Othonem  vagus  primum  et  incertus  rumor;  mox,  ut  in 
magnis  mendaciis,  interfuisse  se  quidam  et  vidisse  ad- 
firmabant,  credula  fama  inter  gaudentes  et  incuriosos. 
Multi  arbitrabantur  compositum  auctumque  rumorem 
mixtis  iam  Othonianis,  qui  ad  evocandum  Galbam  laeta 
falso  vulgaverint. 

Turn  vero    non   populus  tantum  et  imperita  plebs  in  35 
plausus   et   inmodica   studia,    sed   equitum   plerique   ac 


20  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  35,  36,  37. 

senatorum,  posito  metu  incauti,  refractis  Palatii  foribus 
ruere  intus  ac  se  Galbae  ostentare,  praereptam  sibi  ul- 
tionem  querentes ;  ignavissimus  quisque  et,  ut  res  docuit, 
in  periculo  non  ausurus  nimii  verbis,  linguae  feroces;  nemo 
scire  et  omnes  adfirmare,  donee  inopia  veri  et  consensu 
errantium  victus  sumpto  thorace  Galba  inruenti  turbae 
neque  aetate  neque  corpore  resistens  sella  levaretur. 
Obvius  in  Palatio  lulius  Atticus  speculator  cruentum 
gladium  ostentans  occisum  a  se  Othonem  exclamavit;  et 
Galba  '  commilito/  inquit,  'quis  iussit?'  insigni  animo  ad 
coercendam  militarem  licentiam,  minantibus  intrepidus, 
adversus  blandientes  incorruptus. 

36  Haud  dubiae  iam  in  castris  omnium  mentes  tantusque 
ardor  ut  non  contenti  agmine  et  corporibus  in  suggestu, 
in  quo  paulo  ante  aurea  Galbae  statua  fuerat,  medium  inter 
signa  Othonem  vexillis  circumdarent.     Nee  tribunis  aut 
centurionibus  adeundi  locus:    gregarius  miles  caveri  in- 
super  praepositos  iubebat.     Strepere  cuncta  clamoribus  et 
tumultu  et  exhortatione  mutua,  non  tanquam  in  populo 
ac  plebe,  variis  segni  adulatione  vocibus,  sed  ut  quemque 
adfluentium    militum    adspexerant,    prensare    manibus, 
complecti  armis,  conlocare  iuxta,  praeire  sacramentum, 
modo  imperatorem   militibus,    modo   milites  imperatori 
commend  are.     Nee  deer  at  Otho  protendens  manus  adorare 
vulgus,  iacere  oscula  et  omnia  serviliter  pro  dominatione. 
Postquam  universa  classicorum  legio  sacramentum  eius 
accepit,  fidens  viribus,  et   quos  adhuc  singulos  extimu- 
laverat,  accendendos  in  commune  ratus  pro  vallo  cas- 
trorum  ita  coepit : 

37  'Quis  ad   vos  processerim,    commilitones,   dicere   non 
possum,  quia  nee  privatum  me  vocare  sustineo  princeps  a 
vobis  nominatus,  nee  principem  alio  imperante.     Vestrum 


CHAPS.  37,  38  ]  HISTORIES  I  21 

quoque  nomen  in  incerto  erit,  donee  dubitabitur,  imperato- 
rem  populi  Romani  in  castris  an  hostem  habeatis.  Audi- 
tisne  ut  poena  mea  et  supplicium  vestrum  simul  postu- 
lentur?  Adeo  manifestum  est  neque  perire  nos  neque 
salvos  esse  nisi  una  posse ;  et  cuius  lenitatis  est  Galba,  iam 
fortasse  promisit,  ut  qui  nullo  exposccnte  tot  milia  inno- 
centissimorum  militum  trucidaverit.  Horror  animum 
subit,  quotiens  recordor  feralem  introitum  et  hanc  solam 
Galbae  victoriam,  cum  in  oculis  urbis  decumari  deditos 
iuberet,  quos  deprecantes  in  fidem  acceperat.  His  aus- 
piciis  urbem  ingressus,  quam  gloriam  ad  principatum 
attulit  nisi  occisi  Obultronii  Sabini  et  Cornelii  Marcelli  in 
Hispania,  Betui  Cilonis  in  Gallia,  Fontei  Capitonis  in  Ger- 
mania,  Clodii  Macri  in  Africa,  Cingonii  in  via,  Turpiliani 
in  urbe,  Nymphidii  in  castris?  Quae  usquam  provincia, 
quae  castra  sunt  nisi  cruenta  et  maculata  aut,  ut  ipse 
praedicat,  emendata  et  correcta  ?  Nam  quae  alii  scelera, 
hie  remedia  vocat,  dum  falsis  nominibus  severitatem  pro 
saevitia,  parsimoniam  pro  avaritia,  supplicia  et  contume- 
lias  vestras  disciplinam  appellat.  Septem  a  Neronis  fine 
menses  sunt,  et  iam  plus  rapuit  Icelus  quam  quod  Polycliti 
et  Vatinii  et  Aegiali  perdiderunt.  Minore  avaritia  ac 
licentia  grassatus  esset  T.  Vinius,  si  ipse  imperasset :  nunc 
et  subiectos  nos  habuit  tanquam  suos  et  viles  ut  alienos. 
Una  ilia  domus  sufficit  donativo,  quod  vobis  mimquam 
datur  et  cotidie  exprobratur.' 

'Ac  ne  qua  saltern  in  successore  Galbae  spes  esset,  38 
accersivit  ab  exilio  quern  tristitia  et  avaritia  sui  simillimum 
iudicabat.  Vidistis,  commilitones,  notabili  tempestate 
etiam  deos  infaustam  adoptionem  aversantes.  Idem 
senatus,  idem  populi  Romani  animus  est:  vestra  virtus 
expectatur,  apud  quos  omne  honestis  consiliis  robur  et 


22  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  38,  39,  40. 

sine  quibus  quamvis  egregia  invalida  sunt.  Non  ad 
bellum  vos  nee  ad  periculum  voco :  omnium  militum  arma 
nobiscum  sunt.  Nee  una  cohors  togata  defendit  nunc 
Galbam,  sed  detinet:  cum  vos  aspexerit,  cum  signum 
meum  acceperit,  hoc  solum  erit  certamen,  quis  mihi  pluri- 
mum  inputet.  Nullus  cunctationis  locus  est  in  eo  con- 
silio  quod  non  potest  laudari  nisi  peractum.'  Aperire 
deinde  armamentarium  iussit.  Rapta  statim  arma,  sine 
more  et  ordine  militiae,  ut  praetorianus  aut  legionarius 
insignibus  suis  distingueretur :  miscentur  auxiliaribus 
galeis  scutisque,  nullo  tribunorum  centurionumve  adhor- 
tante,  sibi  quisque  dux  et  instigator;  et  praecipuum 
pessimorum  incitamentum  quod  boni  maerebant. 

39  lam    exterritus   Piso  fremitu   crebrescentis    seditionis 
et  vocibus  in  urbem  usque  resonantibus  egressum  interim 
Galbam  et  foro  appropinquantem  adsecutus  erat;    iam 
Marius  Celsus  baud  laeta  rettulerat,  cum  alii  in  Palatium 
redire,  alii  Capitolium  petere,  plerique  rostra  occupanda 
censerent,   plures  tantum  sententiis  aliorum  contra  di- 
cerent,  utque  evenit  in  consiliis  infelicibus,  optima  vide- 
rentur  quorum  tempus  effugerat.     Agitasse  Laco  ignaro 
Galba  de  occidendo  Tito  Vinio  dicitur,  sive  ut  poena  eius 
animos  militum  mulceret,  seu  conscium  Othonis  credebat, 
ad  postremum  vel  odio.     Haesitationem  attulit  tempus  ac 
locus,  quia  initio  caedis  orto  difficilis  modus;  et  turbavere 
consilium   trepidi   nuntii   ac   proximorum   diffugia,    lan- 
guentibus  omnium  studiis,  qui  primo  alacres  fidem  atque 
animum  ostentaverant. 

40  Agebatur   hue    illuc   Galba   vario   turbae   fluctuantis 
inpulsu,  completis  undique  basilicis  ac   templis,    lugubri 
prospectu.    Neque  populi  aut  plebis  ulla  vox/sed  attoniti 
vultus  et  conversae  ad  omnia  aures;   non  tumultus,  non 


CHAPS.  40,  41,  42.]  HISTORIES   I  23 

quies,  quale  magni  metus  et  magnae  irae  silentium  est. 
Othoni  tamen  armari  plebem  nuntiabatur;  ire  praecipites 
et  occupare  pericula  iubet.  Igitur  milites  Romani,  quasi 
Vologaesum  aut  Pacorum  avito  Arsacidarum  solio  depul- 
suri  ac  non  imperatorem  suum  inermem  et  senem  trucidare 
pergerent,  disiecta  plebe,  proculcato  senatu,  truces  armis, 
rapidi  equis  forum  irrumpunt.  Nee  illos  Capitolii  aspectus 
et  inminentium  templorum  religio  et  priores  et  futuri 
principes  terruere  quo  minus  facerent  scelus  cuius  ultor 
est  quisquis  successit. 

Viso  comminus  armatorum  agmine  vexillarius  comi-41 
tatae  Galbam  cohortis  (Atilium  Vergilionem  fuisse  tra- 
dunt)  dereptam  Galbae  imaginem  solo  adflixit:  eo  signo 
manifesta  in  Othonem  omnium  militum  studia,  desertum 
fuga  populi  forum,  destricta  adversus  dubitantes  tela. 
luxta  Curtii  lacum  trepidatione  ferentium  Galba  proiectus 
e  sella  ac  provolutus  est.  Extremam  eius  vocem,  ut 
cuique  odium  aut  admiratio  fuit,  varie  prodidere:  alii 
suppliciter  interrogasse  quid  mali  meruisset,  paucos 
dies  exsolvendo  donative  deprecatum;  plures  obtulisse 
ultro  percussoribus  iugulum:  agerent  ac  ferirent,  si  ita  e 
re  publica  videretur.  Non  interfuit  occidentium  quid 
diceret.  De  percussore  non  satis  constat:  quidam 
Terentium  evocatum,  alii  Laecanium;  crebrior  fama 
tradidit  Camurium  quintae  decumae  legionis  militem  in- 
presso  gladio  iugulum  eius  hausisse.  Ceteri  crura  brachia- 
que  (nam  pectus  tegebatur)  foede  laniavere;  pleraque 
vulnera  feritate  et  saevitia  trunco  iam  corpori  adiecta. 

Titum  inde  Vinium  invasere ;  de  quo  et  ipso  ambigitur,  42 
consumpseritne  vocem  eius  instans  metus,  an  proclama- 
verit   non    esse   ab   Othone   mandatum   ut    occideretur. 
Quod  seu  finxit  formidine,  seu  conscientiam  coniurationis 


24  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  42,  43,  44. 

confessus  est,  hue  potius  eius  vita  famaque  inclinat,  ut 
conscius  sceleris  fuerit  cuius  causa  erat.  Ante  aedem  divi 
lulii  iacuit  prime  ictus  in  poplitem,  mox  ab  lulio  Caro 
legionario  milite  in  utrumque  latus  transverberatus. 

43  Insignem    ilia  die  virum  Sempronium   Densum  aetas 
nostra  vidit.    Centurio  is  praetoriae  cohortis,   a  Galba 
custodiae  Pisonis  additus,  stricto  pugione  occurrens  ar- 
matis  et  scelus  exprobrans  ac  modo  manu  modo  voce 
vertendo  in  se  percussores  quanquam  vulnerato  Pisoni 
effugium  dedit.     Piso  in  aedem  Vestae  pervasit,  excep- 
tusque  misericordia  publici  servi  et  contubernio  eius  ab- 
ditus  non  religione  nee  caerimoniis  sed  latebra  inminens 
exitium  differebat,  cum  advenere  missu  Othonis  nominatim 
in  caedem  eius  ardentis  Sulpicius  Florus  e  Britannicis 
cohortibus,  nuper  a  Galba  civitate  donatus,   et  Staius 
Murcus  speculator,  a  quibus  protractus  Piso  in  foribus 
templi  trucidatur. 

44  Nullam  caedem  Otho  maiore  laetitia   excepisse,  nul- 
lum  caput  tarn  insatiabilibus  oculis  perlustrasse  dicitur,  seu 
turn  primum  levata  omni  sollicitudine  mens  vacare  gaudio 
coeperat,  seu  recordatio  maiestatis  in  Galba,  amicitiae  in 
Tito  Vinio  quamvis  inmitem  animum  imagine  tristi  con- 
fuderat:    Pisonis  ut  inimici  et  aemuli  caede  laetari  ius 
fasque  credebat.     Praefixa  contis  capita  gestabantur  inter 
signa  cohortium  iuxta  aquilam  legionis,  certatim  osten- 
tantibus  cruentas  manus  qui  occiderant,  qui  interfuerant, 
qui  vere  qui  falso  ut  pulchrum  et  memorabile  facinus 
iactabant.     Plures  quam  centum  viginti  libellos  praemium 
exposcentium  ob  aliquam  notabilem  ilia  die  operam  Vitel- 
lius  postea  invenit,  omnesque  conquiri  et  interfici  iussit, 
non  honori  Galbae,  sed  tradito  principibus  more,  muni- 
mentum  ad  praesens,  in  posterum  ultionem. 


CHAPS.  45,  46.]  HISTORIES  I  25 

Alium  crederes  senatum,  alium  populum :  ruere  cuncti  45 
in  castra,  anteire  proximos,  certare  cum  praecurrentibus, 
increpare  Galbam,  laudare  militum  iudicium,  exosculari 
Othonis  manum;  quantoque  magis  falsa  erant  quae 
fiebant,  tanto  plura  facere.  Nee  aspernabatur  singulos 
Otho,  avidum  et  minacem  militum  animum  voce  vultuque 
temperans.  Marium  Celsum  consulem  designatum  et 
Galbae  usque  in  extremas  res  amicum  fidumque  ad  sup- 
plicium  expostulabant,  industriae  eius  innocentiaeque 
quasi  malis  artibus  infensi.  Caedis  et  praedarum  initium 
et  optimo  cuique  perniciem  quaeri  apparebat,  sed  Othoni 
nondum  auctoritas  inerat  ad  prohibendum  scelus:  iubere 
iam  poterat.  Ita  simulatione  irae  vinciri  iussum  et 
maiores  poenas  daturum  adfirmans  praesenti  exitio 
subtraxit. 

Omnia  deinde  arbitrio  militum  acta:  praetorii  prae-46 
fectos  sibi  ipsi  legere,  Plotium  Firmum  e  manipularibus 
quondam,  turn  vigilibus  praepositum  et  incolumi  adhuc 
Galba  partes  Othonis  secutum;  adiungitur  Licinius 
Proculus,  intima  familiaritate  Othonis  suspectus  consilia 
eius  fovisse.  Urbi  Flavium  Sabinum  praefecere,  iudicium 
Neronis  secuti,  sub  quo  eandem  curam  obtinuerat, 
plerisque  Vespasianum  fratrem  in  eo  respicientibus. 
Flagitatum  ut  vacationes  praestari  centurionibus  solitae 
remitterentur ;  namque  gregarius  miles  ut  tributum  an- 
nuum  pendebat.  Quarta  pars  manipuli  sparsa  per 
commeatus  aut  in  ipsis  castris  vaga,  dum  mercedem  cen- 
turioni  exsolveret,  neque  modum  oneris  quisquam  neque 
genus  quaestus  pensi  habebat :  per  latrocinia  et  raptus  aut 
servilibus  ministeriis  militare  otium  redimebant.  Turn 
locupletissimus  quisqae  miles  labore  ac  saevitia  fatigari, 
donee  vacationem  emeret.  Ubi  sumptibus  exhaustus 


26  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  46,  47,  48. 

socordia  insuper  elanguerat,  inops  pro  locuplete  et  iners 
pro  strenuo  in  manipulum  redibat,  ac  rursus  alius  atque 
alius  eadem  egestate  ac  licentia  corrupt!  ad  seditiones  et 
discordias  et  ad  extremum  bella  civilia  ruebant.  Sed 
Otho  ne  vulgi  largitione  centuriomim  animos  averteret, 
fiscum  suum  vacationes  annuas  exsoluturum  promisit, 
rem  baud  dubie  utilem  et  a  bonis  postea  principibus 
perpetuitate  disciplinae  firmatam.  Laco  praefectus,  tan- 
quam  in  insulam  seponeretur,  ab  evocato,  quern  ad  caedem 
eius  Otho  praemiserat,  confossus ;  in  Marcianum  Icelum 
ut  in  libertum  palam  animadversum. 

47  Exacto  per  scelera  die  novissimum  malorum  fuit  laetitia. 
Vocat  senatum  praetor  urbanus,  certant   adulationibus 
ceteri  magistratus,  adcurrunt  patres:    decernitur  Othoni 
tribunicia  potestas  et  nomen  Augusti  et  omnes  principum 
honores,  adnitentibus  cunctis  abolere  convicia  ac  probra, 
quae  promiscue  iacta  haesisse  animo  eius  nemo  sensit: 
omisisset  offensas  an  distulisset,  brevitate  imperii  in  in- 
certo  fuit.  Otho  cruento  adhuc  foro  per  stragem  iacentium 
in  Capitolium  atque  inde  in   Palatium  vectus   concedi 
corpora  sepulturae   cremarique   permisit.     Pisonem  Ve- 
rania  uxor  ac  frater  Scribonianus,  Titum  Vinium  Crispina 
filia  composuere,  quaesitis  redemptisque  capitibus,  quae 
venalia  interfectores  servaverant. 

48  Piso  unum  et   tricensimum  aetatis  annum  explebat, 
fama  meliore  quam  fortuna.     Fratres  eius  Magnum  Clau- 
dius, Crassum  Nero  interf ecerant :  ipse  diu  exul,  quadriduo 
Caesar,  properata  adoptione  ad  hoc  tantum  maiori  fratri 
praelatus  est,  ut  prior  occideretur.  Titus  Vinius  quin- 
quaginta  septem  annos  variis  moribus  egit.     Pater  illi 
praetoria  familia,   maternus  avus  e  proscriptis.     Prima 
militia  infamis:    legatum  Calvisium  Sabinum  habuerat, 


CHAPS.  48,  49.]  HISTORIES  I  27 

cuius  uxor  mala  cupidine  visendi  situm  castrorum  per 
noctem  militari  habitu  ingressa,  cum  vigilias  et  cetera 
militiae  munia  eadem  lascivia  temptasset,  in  ipsis  prin- 
cipiis  stuprum  ausa  est :  criminis  huius  reus  Titus  Vinius 
arguebatur.  Igitur  iussu  C.  Caesaris  oneratus  catenis, 
mox  mutatione  temporum  dimissus,  cursu  honorum 
inoffenso  legioni  post  praeturam  praepositus  probatusque, 
servili  deinceps  probro  respersus  est,  tanquam  scyphum 
aureum  in  convivio  Claudii  furatus,  et  Claudius  postera 
die  soli  omnium  Vinio  fictilibus  ministrari  iussit.  Sed 
inius  proconsulatu  Galliam  Narbonensem  severe  inte- 
greque  rexit ;  mox  Galbae  amicitia  in  abruptum  tractus, 
audax  callidus  promptus  et,  prout  animum  intendisset, 
pravus  aut  industrius  eadem  vi.  Testamentum  Titi  Vini 
magnitudine  opum  inritum,  Pisonis  supremam  volunta- 
tem  paupertas  firmavit. 

Galbae  corpus  diu  neglectum  et  licentia  tenebrarum*9 
plurimis  ludibriis  vexatum  dispensator  Argius  e  primori- 
bus  servis  humili  sepultura  in  privatis  eius  hortis  contexit. 
Caput  per  lixas  calonesque  suffixum  laceratumque  ante 
Patrobii  tumulum  (libertus  is  Neronis  punitus  a  Galba 
fuerat)  postera  demum  die  repertum  et  cremato  iam  cor- 
pori  admixtum  est.  Hunc  exitum  habuit  Servius  Galba, 
tribus  et  septuaginta  annis  quinque  principes  prospera 
fortuna  emensus  et  alieno  imperio  felicior  quam  suo. 
Vetus  in  familia  nobilitas,  magnae  opes:  ipsi  medium 
ingenium,  magis  extra  vitia  quam  cum  virtutibus.  Famae 
nee  incuriosus  nee  venditator ;  pecuniae  alienae  non  appe- 
tens,  suae  parcus,  publicae  avarus;  amicorum  liberto- 
rumque,  ubi  in  bonos  incidisset,  sine  reprehensione  patiens, 
si  mali  forent,  usque  ad  culpam  ignarus.  Sed  claritas 
natalium  et  metus  temporum  obtentui,  ut,  quod  segnitia 


28  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  49,  50,  51. 

erat,  sapientia  vocaretur.  Dum  vigebat  aetas,  militari 
laude  apud  Germanias  floruit.  Pro  consule  Africam 
moderate,  iam  senior  citeriorem  Hispaniam  pari  iustitia 
continuit,  maior  private  visus,  dum  privatus  fuit,  et  om- 
nium consensu  capax  imperii,  nisi  imperasset. 

50  Trepidam  urbem  ac  simul  atrocitatem  recentis  sceleris, 
simul  veteres  Othonis  mores  paventem  novus  insuper  de 
Vitellio  nuntius  exterruit,  ante  caedem  Galbae  suppres- 
sus,  ut  tantum  superioris  Germaniae  exercitus  descivisse 
crederetur.    Turn   duos   omnium   mortalium   inpudicitia 
ignavia  luxuria  deterrimos  velut  ad  perdendum  imperium 
fataliter  electos  non  senatus  modo  et  eques,  quis  aliqua 
pars  et  cura  rei  publicae,  sed  vulgus  quoque  palam  maerere. 
Nee  iam  recentia  saevae  pacis  exempla,  sed  repetita  bel- 
lorum   civilium   memoria   captam   totiens   suis   exerciti- 
bus  urbem,  vastitatem  Italiae,  direptiones  provinciarum, 
Pharsaliam  Philippos  et  Perusiam  ac  Mutinam,  nota  pub- 
licarum  cladium  nomina,  loquebantur.     Prope  eversum 
orbem,  etiam  cum  de  principatu  inter  bonos  certaretur, 
sed  mansisse  C.  lulio,  mansisse  Caesare  Augusto  victore 
imperium;   mansuram  fuisse  sub  Pompeio  Brutoque  rem 
publicam.    Nunc  pro  Othone  an  pro  Vitellio  in  templa 
ituros?     Utrasque  inpias  preces,  utraque  detestanda  vota 
inter  duos,  quorum  bello  solum  id  scires,  deteriorem  fore 
qui  vicisset.     Erant  qui  Vespasianum  et  arma  Orientis 
augurarentur,  et  ut  potior  utroque  Vespasianus,  ita  bellum 
aliud  atque  alias  clades  horrebant.     Et  ambigua  de  Ves- 
pasiano  fama,  solusque  omnium  ante  se  principum  in 
melius  mutatus  est. 

51  Nunc    initia    causasque    motus    Vitelliani    expediam. 
Caeso  cum  omnibus  copiis  lulio  Vindice  ferox  praeda 
gloriaque  exercitus,  ut  cui  sine  labore  ac  periculo  ditissimi 


CHAPS.  51,  52.]  HISTORIES   I  29 

belli  victoria  evenisset,  expeditionem  et  aciem,  praemia 
quam  stipendia  malebat.  Diu  infructuosam  et  asperam 
militiam  toleraverant  ingenio  loci  caelique  et  severitate 
disciplinae,  quam  in  pace  inexorabilem  discordiae  civium 
resolvunt,  paratis  utrimque  corruptoribus  et  perfidia  in- 
punita.  Viri  arma  equi  ad  usum  et  ad  decus  supererant- 
Sed  ante  bellum  centurias  tantum  suas  turmasque  no. 
verant;  exercitus  finibus  provinciarum  discerneban- 
tur :  turn  adversus  Vindicem  contractae  legiones,  seque  et 
Gallias  expertae,  quaerere  rursum  arma  novasque  dis- 
cordias;  nee  socios,  ut  olim,  sed  hostes  et  victos  voca- 
bant.  Nee  deerat  pars  Galliarum,  quae  Rhenum  accolit, 
easdem  partes  secuta  ac  turn  acerrima  instigatrix  ad- 
versum  Galbianos;  hoc  enim  nomen  fastidito  Vindice 
indiderant.  Igitur  Sequanis  Aeduisque  ac  deinde,  prout 
opulentia  civitatibus  erat,  infensi  expugnationes  urbium, 
populationes  agrorum,  raptus  penatium  hauserant  animo, 
super  avaritiam  et  adrogantiam,  praecipua  validiorum 
vitia,  contumacia  Gallorum  inritati,  qui  remissam  sibi  a 
Galba  quartam  tributorum  partem  et  publice  donates 
in  ignominiam  exercitus  iactabant.  Accessit  callide  vul- 
gatum,  temere  creditum,  decumari  legiones  et  promptissi- 
mum  quemque  centurionum  dimitti.  Undique  atroces 
nuntii,  sinistra  ex  urbe  fama;  infensa  Lugudunensis  colo- 
nia  et  pertinaci  pro  Nerone  fide  fecunda  rumoribus.  Sed 
plurima  ad  fingendum  credendumque  materies  in  ipsis 
castris,  odio  metu  et,  ubi  vires  suas  respexerant,  securitate. 

Sub  ipsas  superioris  anni  kalendas  Decembres  Aulus  52 
Vitellius  inferiorem  Germaniam  ingressus  hiberna  legionum 
cum  cura  adierat:    redditi  plerisque  ordines,  remissa  ig- 
nominia,   adlevatae  notae;    plura   ambitione,    quaedam 
iudicio,  in  quibus  sordes  et  avaritiam  Fontei  Capitonis 


30  TACITUS  ^HAPS.  52,  53. 

adimendis  adsignandisve  militiae  ordinibus  integre  muta- 
verat.  Nee  consularis  legati  mensura,  sed  in  maius  omnia 
accipiebantur;  et  ut  Vitellius  apud  severos  humilis,  ita 
comitatem  bonitatemque  faventes  vocabant,  quod  sine 
modo,  sine  iudicio  donaret  sua,  largiretur  aliena;  simul 
aviditate  impen'  rfandi  ipsa  vitia  pro  virtutibus  inter- 
pretabantur.  Multi  in  utroque  exercitu  sicut  modesti 
quietique,  ita  mali  et  strenui.  Sed  profusa  cupidine  et 
insigni  temeritate  legati  legionum  Alienus  Caecina  et 
Fabius  Valens;  e  quibus  Valens  infensus  Galbae,  tan- 
quam  detectara  a  se  Verginii  cimctationem,  oppressa 
Capitonis  consilia  ingrate  tulisset,  instigare  Vitellium, 
ardorem  militum  ostentans:  ipsum  celebri  ubique  fama, 
nullam  in  Flacco  Hordeonio  moram;  adfore  Britanniam, 
secutura  Germanorum  auxilia;  male  fidas  provincias, 
precarium  seni  imperium  et  brevi  transiturum:  panderet 
modo  sinum  et  venienti  Fortunae  occurreret.  Merito 
dubitasse  Verginium  equestri  familia,  ignoto  patre,  inpa- 
rem,  si  recepisset  imperium,  tutum,  si  recusasset:  Vi- 
tellio  tres  patris  consulatus  censuram  collegium  Caesaris 
et  inponere  iam  pridem  imperatoris  dignationem  et  auferre 
privati  securitatem.  Quatiebatur  his  segne  ingenium,  ut 
concupisceret  magis  quam  ut  speraret. 
53  At  in  superiore  Germania  Caecina  decorus  iuventa, 
corpore  ingens,  animi  inmodicus,  scito  sermone,  erecto 
incessu,  studia  militum  inlexerat.  Hunc  iuvenem  Galba, 
quaestorem  in  Baetica  inpigre  in  partes  suas  transgressurn. 
legioni  praeposuit;  mox  compertum  publicam  pecuniam 
avertisse  ut  peculatorem  flagitari  iussit.  Caecina  aegre 
passus  miscere  cuncta  et  privata  vulnera  rei  publicae 
malis  operire  statuit.  Nee  deerant  in  exercitu  semina 
discordiae,  quod  et  bello  adversus  Vindicem  universus 


CHAPS.  53,  54,  55.]  HISTORIES   I  31 

adfuerat,  nee  nisi  occiso  Nerone  translatus  in  Galbam  atque 
in  eo  ipso  sacramento  vexillis  inferioris  Germaniae  prae- 
ventus  erat.  Et  Treveri  ac  Lingones,  quasque  alias 
civitates  atrocibus  edictis  aut  damno  finium  Galba  per- 
culerat,  hibernis  legionum  propius  miscentur;  unde  sedi- 
tiosa  colloquia  et  inter  paganos  corruptior  miles,  et  in 
Verginium  favor  cuicumque  alii  profuturus. 

Miserat  civitas  Lingonum  vetere  institute  dona  legioni-54 
bus  dextras,  hospitii  insigne.  Legati  eorum  in  squalorem 
maestitiamque  compositi  per  principia  per  contubernia 
modo  suas  iniurias,  modo  vicinarum  civitatium  praemia,  et 
ubi  pronis  militum  auribus  accipiebantur,  ipsius  exercitus 
pericula  et  contumelias  conquerentes  accendebant  animos; 
nee  procul  seditione  aberant,  cum  Hordeonius  Flaccus 
abire  legates,  utque  occultior  digressus  esset,  nocte  castris 
excedere  iubet.  Inde  atrox  rumor,  adfirmantibus  pleris- 
que  interfectos,  ac  ni  sibi  ipsi  consulerent,  fore  ut  acerrimi 
militum  et  praesentia  conquesti  per  tenebras  et  inscitiam 
ceterorum  occiderentur.  Obstringuntur  inter  se  tacito 
foedere  legiones,  adsciscitur  auxiliorum  miles,  primo  sus- 
pectus,  tanquam  circumdatis  cohortibus  alisque  impetus 
in  legiones  pararetur,  mox  eadem  acrius  volvens,  faciliore 
inter  malos  consensu  ad  bellum  quam  in  pace  ad  concor- 
diam. 

Inferioris  tamen  Germaniae  legiones  sollemni  kalenda-55 
rum  lanuariarum  sacramento  pro  Galba  adactae,  multa 
cunctatione  et  raris  primorum  ordinum  vocibus,  ceteri 
silentio  proximi  cuiusque  audaciam  exspectantes,  insita 
mortalibus  natura  propere  sequi  quae  piget  incohare. 
Sed  ipsis  legionibus  inerat  diversitas  animorum:  primani 
quintanique  turbidi  adeo  ut  quidam  saxa  in  Galbae  ima- 
gines iecerint :  quinta  decuma  ac  sexta  decuma  legiones 


32  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  55,  56. 

nihil  ultra  fremitum  et  minas  ausae  initium  erumpendi 
circumspectabant. 

At  in  superiore  exercitu  quarta  et  duoetvicensima 
legiones,  isdem  hibernis  tendentes,  ipso  kalendarum 
lanuariarum  die  dirumpunt  imagines  Galbae,  quarta 
legio  promptius,  duoetvicensima  cunctanter,  mox  consensu. 
Ac  ne  reverentiam  imperii  exuere  viderentur,  senatus 
populique  Romani  oblitterata  iam  nomina  sacramento 
advocabant,  nullo  legatorum  tribunorumve  pro  Galba 
nitente,  quibusdam,  ut  in  tumultu,  notabilius  turbantibus. 
Non  tamen  quisquam  in  modum  contionis  aut  suggestu 
locutus;  neque  enim  erat  adhuc  cui  inputaretur. 
56  Spectator  flagitii  Hordeonius  Flaccus  consularis  lega- 
tus  aderat,  non  compescere  ruentes,  non  retinere  dubios, 
non  cohortari  bonos  ausus,  sed  segnis  pavidus  et  socordia 
innocens.  Quattuor  centuriones  duoetvicensimae  legionis, 
Nonius  Receptus,  Donatius  Valens,  Romilius  Marcellus, 
Calpurnius  Repentinus,  cum  protegerent  Galbae  imagines, 
impetu  militum  abrepti  vinctique.  Nee  cuiquam  ultra 
fides  aut  memoria  prioris  sacramenti,  sed  quod  in  sedi- 
tionibus  accidit,  unde  plures  erant,  omnes  fuere. 

Nocte  quae  kalendas  lanuarias  secuta  est,  in  coloniam 
Agrippinensem  aquilifer  quartae  legionis  epulanti  Vitellio 
nuntiat,  quartam  et  duoetvicensimam  legiones  proiectis 
Galbae  imaginibus  in  senatus  ac  populi  Romani  verba 
iurasse.  Id  sacramentum  inane  visum:  occupari  nutan- 
tem  fortunam  et  offerri  principem  placuit.  Missi  a  Vitel- 
lio ad  legiones  legatosque  qui  descivisse  a  Galba  superi- 
orem  exercitum  nuntiarent:  proinde  aut  bellandum 
adversus  desciscentes  aut,  si  concordia  et  pax  placeat, 
faciendum  imperatorem ;  et  minore  discrimine  sumi  princi- 
pem quam  quaeri. 


CHAPS.  57, 58.]  HISTORIES   I  33 

Proxima  legionis  primae  hiberna  erant  et  promptissi-  57 
mus  e  legatis  Fabius  Valens.  Is  die  proximo  coloniam 
Agrippinensem  cum  equitibus  legionis  auxiliariorumque  in- 
gressus  imperatorem  Vitellium  consalutavit.  Secutae 
ingenti  certamine  eiusdem  provinciae  legiones;  et  superior 
exercitus,  speciosis  senatus  populique  Romani  nominibus 
relictis,  tertio  nonas  lanuarias  Vitellio  accessit:  scires 
ilium  priore  biduo  non  penes  rem  publicam  fuisse.  Ar- 
dorem  exercituum  Agrippinenses  Treveri  Lingones  aequa- 
bant,  auxilia  equos,  arma  pecuniam  offerentes,  ut  quis- 
que  corpora  opibus  ingenio  validus.  Nee  principes  modo 
coloniarum  aut  castrorum,  quibus  praesentia  ex  affluent! 
et  parta  victoria  magnae  spes,  sed  manipuli  quoque  et 
gregarius  miles  viatica  sua  et  balteos  phalerasque,  insignia 
armorum  argento  decora,  loco  pecuniae  tradebant  instinctu 
et  impetu,  et  avaritia. 

Igitur  laudata  militum  alacritate  Vitellius  ministeria  58 
principatus  per  libertos  agi  solita  in  equites  Romanos 
disponit,  vacationes  centurionibus  ex  fisco  numerat, 
saevitiam  militum  plerosque  ad  poenam  exposcentium 
snepius  adprobat,  raro  simulatione  vinculorum  frustratur. 
Pompeius  Propinquus  procurator  Belgicae  statim  inter- 
fectus;  lulium  Burdonem  Germanicae  classis  praefectum 
astu  subtraxit.  Exarserat  in  eum  iracundia  exercitus, 
tanquam  crimen  ac  mox  insidias  Fonteio  Capitoni  stru- 
xisset.  Grata  erat  memoria  Capitonis,  et  apud  saevientes 
occidere  palam,  ignoscere  non  nisi  f allendo  licebat :  ita  in 
custodia  habitus  et  post  victoriam  demum,  sedatis  iam 
militum  odiis,  dimissus  est.  Interim  ut  piaculum  obicitur 
centurio  Crispinus:  sanguine  Capitonis  se  cruentaverat 
eoque  et  postulantibus  manifestior  et  punienti  vilior 
fuit. 


34  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  59,  60,  61. 

59  lulius   deinde   Civilis   periculo    exemptus,    praepotens 
inter  Batavos,  ne  supplicio  ems  ferox  gens  alienaretur. 
Et  erant  in  civitate  Lingonum  octo  Batavorum  cohortes, 
quartae   decumae   legionis   auxilia,    turn   discordia   tem- 
porum   a   legione   digressae,   prout   inclinassent,    grande 
momentum    sociae    aut    adversae.     Nonium,    Donatium, 
Romilium,  Calpurnium  centuriones,  de  quibus  supra  rettu- 
limus,  occidi  iussit,  damnatos  fidei  crimine,   gravissimo 
inter  desciscentes.  Accessere  partibus  Valerius  Asiaticus, 
Belgicao  provinciae  legatus,  quern  mox  Vitellius  generum 
adscivit,  et  lunius  Blaesus  Lugudunensis  Galliae  rector 
cum  Italica  legione  et  ala  Tauriana  Luguduni  tendentibus. 
Nee  in  Raeticis  copiis  mora,  quo  minus  statim  adiunge- 
rentur;  ne  in  Britannia  quidem  dubitatum. 

60  Praeerat  Trebellius  Maximus,  per  avaritiam  ac  sordes 
contemptus    exercitui    invisusque.     Accendebat     odium 
eius   Roscius   Coelius   legatus   vicensimae   legionis,    olim 
discors,   sed   occasione   civilium   armorum   atrocius  pro- 
ruperant.     Trebellius   seditionem   et    confusum   ordinem 
disciplinae   Coelio,    spoliatas   et   inopes   legiones   Coelius 
Trebellio  obiectabat,  cum  interim  foedis  legatorum  cer- 
taminibus  modestia  exercitus  corrupta  eoque  discordiae 
ventum,  ut  auxiliarium  quoque  militum  conviciis  protur- 
batus  et  adgregantibus  se  Coelio  cohortibus  alisque  deser- 
tus  Trebellius  ad  Vitellium  perfugerit.     Quies  provinciae 
quanquam  remote  consulari  mansit:    rexere  legati  legio- 
num,  pares  iure,  Coelius  audendo  potentior. 

61  Adiuncto    Britannico  exercitu    ingens  viribus   opibus- 
que  Vitellius  duos  duces,  duo  itinera  bello  destinavit :  Fa- 
bius  Valens  allicere  vel,  si  abnuerent,  vastare  Gallias  et 
Cottianis   Alpibus   Italiam   inrumpere,  Caecina  propiore 
transitu  Poeninis  iugis  degredi  iussus.     Valenti  inferioris 


CHAPS.  61, 62,  63.]  HISTORIES   I  35 

exercitus  elect!  cum  aquila  quintae  legionis  et  cohortibus 
alisque,  ad  quadraginta  milia  armatorum,  data:  triginta 
milia  Caecina  e  superiore  Germania  ducebat,  quorum  robur 
legio  unaetvicensima  fuit.  Addita  utrique  Germanorum 
auxilia,  e  quibus  Vitellius  suas  quoque  copias  supplevit, 
tota  mole  belli  secuturus. 

Mira  inter  exercitum  imperatoremque  diversitas:  in- 62 
stare  miles,  arma  poscere,  dum  Galliae  trepident,  dum  His- 
paniae  cunctentur:  non  obstare  hiemem  neque  ignavae 
pacis  moras;  invadendam  Italiam,  occupandam  urbem; 
nihil  in  discordiis  civilibus  festinatione  tutius,  ubi  facto 
magis  quam  consulto  opus  esset.  Torpebat  Vitetlius  et 
fortunam  principatus  inerti  luxu  ac  prodigis  epulis  prae- 
sumebat,  medio  diei  temulentus  et  sagina  gravis,  cum 
tamen  ardor  et  vis  militum  ultro  ducis  munia  implebat, 
ut  si  adesset  imperator  et  strenuis  vel  ignavis  spem  me- 
tumve  adderet.  Instruct!  intentique  signum  profectionis 
exposcunt,  nomine  Germanic!  Vitellio  statim  addito: 
Caesarem  se  appellari  etiam  victor  prohibuit.  Laetum 
augurium  Fabio  Valenti  exercituique  quern  in  bellum 
agebat,  ipso  profectionis  die  aquila  leni  meatu,  prout 
agmen  incederet,  velut  dux  viae  praevolavit;  longumque 
per  spatium  is  gaudentium  militum  clamor,  ea  quies  in- 
territae  alitis  fuit,  ut  baud  dubium  magnae  et  prosperae 
rei  omen  acciperetur. 

Et  Treveros  quidem  ut  socios  securi  adiere:  Divo-63 
duri  (Mediomatricorum  id  oppidum  est)  quanquam  omni 
comitate  exceptos  subitus  pavor  terruit,  raptis  repente 
armis  ad  caedem  innoxiae  civitatis,  non  ob  praedam  aut 
spoliandi  cupidine,  sed  furore  et  rabie  et  causis  incertis 
eoque  difficilioribus  remediis,  donee  precibus  ducis  miti- 
gati  ab  excidio  civitatis  tempera vere;  caesa  tamen  ad 


36  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  63,  64,  65. 

quattuor  milia  hominum.  Isque  terror  Gallias  invasit, 
ut  venienti  mox  agmini  universae  civitates  cum  magis- 
tratibus  et  precibus  occurrerent,  stratis  per  vias  feminis 
puerisque,  quaeque  alia  placamenta  hostilis  irae  non  qui- 
dem  in  bello,  sed  pro  pace  tendebantur. 

64  Nuntium  de  caede  Galbae  et  imperio  Othonis  Fabius 
Valens  in  civitate  Leucorum  accepit.     Nee  militum  ani- 
mus in  gaudium  aut  formidine  permotus :  bellum  volvebat. 
Gallis  cunctatio  exempta  est:    in  Othonem  ac  Vitellium 
odium    par,   ex  Vitellio  et    metus.    Proxima  Lingonum 
civitas   erat,   fida   partibus.     Benigne   excepti    modestia 
certavere,  sed  brevis  laetitia  fuit  cohortium  intemperie, 
quas  a  legione  quarta  decuma,  ut  supra  memoravimus, 
digressas  exercitui  suo  Fabius  Valens  adiunxerat.     lurgia 
primum,  mox  rixa  inter  Batavos  et  legionaries,  dum  his 
aut  illis  studia  militum  adgregantur,  prope  in  proelium 
exarsere,  ni  Valens  animadversione  paucorum  oblitos  iam 
Batavos  imperii  admonuisset.    Frustra  adversus  Aeduos 
quaesita  belli  causa:    iussi  pecuniam  atque  arma  deferre 
gratuitos   insuper   commeatus    praebuere.     Quod    Aedui 
formidine,  Lugudunenses  gaudio  fecere.     Sed  legio  Italica 
et  ala  Tauriana  abductae:    cohortem  duodevicensimam 
Luguduni,  solitis  sibi  hibernis,  relinqui  placuit.     Manlius 
Valens  legatus  Italicae  legionis,  quanquam  bene  de  par- 
tibus meritus,  nullo  apud  Vitellium  honore  fuit:    secretis 
eum  criminationibus  infamaverat  Fabius  ignarum  et,  quo 
incautior  deciperetur,  palam  laudatum. 

65  Veterem  inter  Lugudunenses  et  Viennenses  discordiam 
proximum   bellum  accenderat.     Multae  in  vicem  clades 
crebrius  infestiusque  quam  ut  tantum  propter  Neronem 
Galbamque  pugnaretur.     Et  Galba  reditus  Lugudunen- 
sium  occasione  irae  in  fiscum  verterat;   multus  contra  in 


CHAPS.  65,  66.]  HISTORIES  I  37 

Viennenses  honor :  unde  aemulatio  et  invidia  et  uno  amne 
discretis  conexum  odium.  Igitur  Lugudunenses  extimu- 
lare  singulos  militum  et  in  eversionem  Viennensium  im- 
pellere,  obsessam  ab  illis  coloniam  suam,  adiutos  Vindicis 
conatus,  conscriptas  nuper  legiones  in  praesidium  Galbae 
referendo.  Et  ubi  causas  odiorum  praetenderant,  mag- 
nitudinem  praedae  ostendebant;  nee  iam  secreta  exhor- 
tatio,  sed  publicae  preces:  irent  ultores,  excinderent 
sedem  Gallici  belli;  cuncta  illic  externa  et  hostilia:  se, 
coloniam  Romanam  et  partem  exercitus  et  prosperarum 
adversarumque  rerum  socios,  si  fortuna  contra  daret, 
iratis  ne  relinquerent. 

His  et  pluribus  in  eundem  modum  perpulerant,  ut66 
ne  legati  quidem  ac  duces  partium  restingui  posse  iracun- 
diam  exercitus  arbitrarentur,  cum  baud  ignari  discriminis 
sui  Viennenses,  velamenta  et  infulas  praeferentes,  ubi  ag- 
men  incesserat,  arma  genua  vestigia  prensando  flexere 
militum  animos ;  addidit  Valens  trecenos  singulis  militibus 
sestertios.  Turn  vetustas  dignitasque  coloniae  valuit  et 
verba  Fabi  salutem  incolumitatemque  Viennensium  com- 
mendantis  aequis  auribus  accepta;  publice  tamen  armis 
multati,  privatis  et  promiscuis  copiis  iuvere  militem. 
Sed  fama  constans  fuit  ipsum  Valentem  magna  pecunia 
emptum.  Is  diu  sordidus,  repente  dives  mutationem 
fortunae  male  tegebat,  accensis  egestate  longa  cupidinibus 
inmoderatus  et  inopi  iuventa  senex  prodigus.  Lento 
deinde  agmine  per  fines  Allobrogum  ac  Vocontiorum 
ductus  exercitus,  ipsa  itinerum  spatia  et  stativorum 
mutationes  venditante  duce  foedis  pactionibus  adversus 
possessores  agrorum  et  magistratus  civitatum,  adeo 
minaciter  ut  Luco  (municipium  id  Vocontiorum  est) 
faces  admoverit,  donee  pecunia  mitigaretur.  Quotiens 


38  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  66,  67,  68. 

pecuniae  materia  deesset,  stupris  et  adulteriis  exorabatur. 
Sic  ad  Alpes  perventum. 

67  Plus    praedae  ac    sanguinis    Caecina    hausit.      Inrita- 
verant   turbidum   ingenium  Helvetii,  Gallica    gens    olim 
armis  virisque,   mox  memoria  nominis   clara,   de   caede 
Galbae  ignari  et  Vitellii  imperium  abnuentes.     Initium 
bello  fuit  avaritia  ac  festinatio  unaetvicensimae  legionis: 
rapuerant  pecuniam  missam  in  stipendium  castelli,  quod 
olim    Helvetii    suis    militibus    ac    stipendiis    tuebantur. 
Aegre  id  passi  Helvetii,  interceptis  epistulis,  quae  nomine 
Germanici  exercitus  ad  Pannonicas  legiones  ferebantur, 
centurionem  et  quosdam  militum  in  custodia  retinebant. 
Caecina  belli  avidus  proximam  quamque  culpam,  ante- 
quam    paeniteret,    ultum    ibat:     mota    propere    castra, 
vastati  agri,   direptus  longa  pace  in  modum  municipii 
exstructus  locus,   amoeno   salubrium   aquarum  usu   fre- 
quens;  missi  ad  Raetica  auxilia  nuntii,  ut  versos  in  legio- 
nem  Helvetios  a  tergo  adgrederentur. 

68  Illi  ante  discrimen  feroces,  in  periculo  pavidi,  quan- 
quam  primo  tumultu  Claudium  Severum  ducem  legerant, 
non  arma  noscere,  non  ordines  sequi,  non  in  unum  con- 
sulere.     Exitiosum  adversus  veteranos  proelium,  intuta 
obsidio  dilapsis  vetustate  moenibus;    hinc  Caecina  cuni 
valido  exercitu,  inde  Raeticae  alae  cohortesque  et  ipsorum 
Raetorum  iuventus,  sueta  armis  et  more  militiae  exercita. 
Undique  populatio  et  caedes;    ipsi  medio  vagi,  abiectis 
armis,  magna  pars  saucii  aut  palantes,  in  montem  Voce- 
tium   perfugere.     Ac    statim   inmissa    cohorte   Thracum 
depuisi  et  consectantibus  Germanis  Raetisque  per  silvas 
atque  in  ipsis  latebris  trucidati.     Multa  hominum  milia 
eaesa,    multa    sub    corona    venundata;     cumque    dirutis 
omnibus  Aventicum  gentis  caput  in/esto  agmine  peteretur, 


CHAPS.  68,  69,  70.]  HISTORIES   I  39 

missi  qui  dederent  civitatem,  et  deditio  accepta.  In 
lulium  Alpinura  e  principibus  ut  concitorem  belli  Caecina 
animadvertit :  ceteros  veniae  vel  saevitiae  Vitellii  reliquit. 

Hand  facile  dictu  est,  legati  Helvetiorum  minus  pla-69 
cabilem  imperatorem  an  militem  invenerint.  Civitatis 
excidium  poscunt,  tela  ac  manus  in  ora  legatorum  inten- 
tant.  Ne  Vitellius  quidem  verbis  ac  minis  temperabat, 
cum  Claudius  Cossus,  unus  e  legatis,  notae  facundiae,  sed 
dicendi  artem  apta  trepidatione  occultans  atque  eo  validior, 
militis  animum  mitigavit.  Turn,  ut  est  mos,  vulgus 
mutabile  subitis,  tarn  pronum  in  misericordiam  quam 
immodicum  saevitia  fuerat:  effusis  lacrimis  et  meliora 
constantius  postulando  inpunitatem  salutemque  civitati 
inpetravere. 

Caecina  paucos  in  Helvetiis  moratus  dies,  dum  senten-  70 
tiae  Vitellii  certior  fieret,  simul  transitum  Alpium  parans, 
laetum  ex  Italia  nuntium  accipit  alam  Silianam  circa 
Padum  agentem  sacramento  Vitellii  accessisse.  Pro 
consule  Vitellium  Siliani  in  Africa  habuerant;  mox  a 
Nerone,  ut  in  ^Egyptum  praemitterentur,  acciti  et  ob 
bellum  Vindicis  revocati  ac  turn  in  Italia  manentes,  in- 
stinctu  decurionum,  qui  Othonis  ignari,  Vitellio  obstricti 
robur  adventantium  legionum  et  famam  Germanici  exer- 
citus  attollebant,  transiere  in  partes,  et  ut  donum  aliquod 
novo  principi  firmissima  transpadanae  regionis  municipia, 
Mediolanum  ac  Novariam  et  Eporediam  et  Vercellas, 
adiunxere.  Id  Caecinae  per  ipsos  compertum;  et  quia 
praesidio  alae  unius  latissima  Italiae  pars  defendi  nequi- 
bat,  praemissis  Gallorum  Lusitanorumque  et  Britannorum 
cohortibus  et  Germanorum  vexillis  cum  ala  Petriana,  ipse 
paulum  cunctatus  est,  num  Raeticis  iugis  in  Noricum 
flecteret  adversus  Petronium  Urbicum  procuratorem,  qui 


40  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  70,  71,  72. 

concitis  auxiliis  et  interrupts  fluminum  pontibus  fidus 
Othoni  putabatur.  Sed  metu,  ne  amitteret  praemissas 
iam  cohortes  alasque,  simul  reputans  plus  gloriae  retenta 
Italia,  et  ubicumque  certatum  foret,  Noricos  in  cetera 
victoriae  praemia  cessuros,  Poenino  itinere  subsignanum 
militem  et  grave  legionum  agmen  hibernis  adhuc  Alpibus 
traduxit. 

71  Otho  interim  contra  spem  omnium  non  deliciis  neque 
desidia  torpescere :    dilatae  voluptates,  dissimulata  luxuria 
et  cuncta  ad  decorem  imperii  composita,  eoque  plus  formi- 
dinis  adferebant  falsae  virtutes  et  vitia  reditura.    Marium 
Celsum  consulem   designatum,   per  speciem   vinculorum 
saevitiae  militum  subtractum,  acciri  in  Capitolium  iubet: 
clementiae  titulus  e  viro  claro  et  partibus  inviso  petebatur. 
Celsus  constanter  servatae  erga  Galbam  fidei  crimen  con- 
fessus  exemplum  ultro  imputavit.     Nee  Otho  quasi  ig- 
nosceret,    sed    testes    mutuae    reconciliationis    adhibens, 
statim  inter  intimos  amicos  habuit  et  mox  bello  inter 
duces  delegit,  mansitque  Celso  velut  fataliter  etiam  pro 
Othone  fides  integra  et  infelix.     Laeta  primoribus  civitatis, 
celebrata  in  vulgus  Celsi  salus  ne  militibus  quidem  ingrata 
fuit,  eandem  virtutem  admirantibus  cui  irascebantur. 

72  Par  inde    exultatio    disparibus    causis    consecuta    in- 
petrato  Tigellini  exitio.     Ofonius  Tigellinus  obscuris  pa- 
rentibus,  foeda  pueritia,  inpudica   senecta,  praefecturam 
vigilum  et  praetorii  et  alia  praemia  virtutum,  quia  velocius 
erat,  vitiis  adeptus,  mox  crudelitatem,  deinde  avaritiam, 
virilia  scelera,  exercuit,  corrupto  ad  omne  facinus  Nerone, 
quaedam  ignaro  ausus,  ac  postremo  eiusdem  desertor  ac 
proditor:   unde  non  alium  pertinacius  ad  poenam  flagita- 
verunt,  diverse  adfectu,  quibus  odium  Neronis  inerat  et 
quibus  desiderium.     Apud   Galbam  Titi   Vinii  potentia 


CHAPS.  72,  73,  74.]  HISTORIES  I  41 

defensus,  praetexentis  servatam  ab  eo  filiam.  Haud 
dubie  servaverat,  non  dementia,  quippe  tot  interfectis, 
sed  effugium  in  futurum,  quia  pessimus  quisque  diffidentia 
praesentium  mutationem  pavens  adversus  publicum  odium 
privatam  gratiam  praeparat ;  unde  nulla  innocentiae  cura, 
sed  vices  impimitatis.  Eo  infensior  populus,  addita  ad 
vetus  Tigellini  odium  recent!  Titi  Vinii  invidia,  con- 
currere  ex  tota  urbe  in  Palatium  ac  fora  et,  ubi  plurima 
vulgi  licentia,  in  circum  ac  theatra  effusi  seditiosis  voci- 
bus  strepere,  donee  Tigellinus  accepto  apud  Sinuessanas 
aquas  supremae  necessitatis  nunito  inter  stupra  concu- 
binarum  et  oscula  et  deformes  moras  sectis  novacula 
faucibus  infamem  vitam  foedavit  etiam  exitu  sero  et 
inhonesto. 

Per  idem  tempus  expostulata  ad  supplicium  Calvia73 
Crispinilla  variis  frustrationibus  et  adversa  dissimulantis 
principis  fama  periculo  exempta  est.  Magistra  libidinum 
Neronis,  transgressa  in  Africam  ad  instigandum  in  arma 
Clodium  Macrum,  famem  populo  Romano  baud  obscure 
molita,  totius  postea  civitatis  gratiam  obtinuit,  consular! 
matrimonio  subnixa  et  apud  Galbam  Othonem  Vitellium 
illaesa,  mox  potens  pecunia  et  orbitate,  quae  bonis  malis- 
que  temporibus  iuxta  valent. 

Crebrae  interim  et  muliebribus  blandimentis  infectae  74 
ab  Othone  ad  Vitellium  epistulae  offerebant  pecuniam  et 
gratiam  et  quemcumque  e  quietis  locis  prodigae  vitae 
legisset.  Paria  Vitellius  ostentabat,  primo  mollius,  stulta 
utrimque  et  indecora  simulatione;  mox  quasi  rixantes 
stupra  ac  flagitia  in  vicem  obiectavere,  neuter  falso. 
Otho  revocatis  quos  Galba  miserat  legatis  rursus  ad  utrum- 
que  Germanicum  exercitum  et  ad  legionem  Italicam  easque 
quae  Luguduni  agebant  copias  specie  senatus  misit. 


42  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  74,  75,  76. 

Legati  apud  Vitellium  remansere  promptius  quam  ut 
retenti  viderentur;  praetoriani,  quos  per  simulationem 
officii  legatis  Otho  adiunxerat,  remissi,  antequam  legi- 
onibus  miscerentur.  Addidit  epistulas  Fabius  Valens 
nomine  Germanic!  exercitus  ad  praetorias  et  urbanas 
cohortes  de  viribus  partium  magnificas  et  concordiam 
offerentes;  increpabat  ultro  quod  tanto  ante  traditum 
Vitellio  imperium  ad  Othonem  vertissent. 

75  Ita  promissis  simul   ac   minis   temptabantur,  ut  bello 
impares,  in  pace  nihil  amissuri;    neque  ideo  praetoriano- 
rum  fides  mutata.     Sed  insidiatores  ab  Othone  in  Ger- 
maniam,    a    Vitellio   in   urbem   missi.     Utrisque   frustra 
fuit,  Vitellianis  inpune,  per  tantam  hominum  multitudi- 
nem  mutua  ignorantia  fallentibus:    Othoniani  novitate 
vultus,  omnibus  in  vicem  gnaris,  prodebantur.     Vitellius 
litteras  ad  Titianum  fratrem  Othonis  composuit,  exitium 
ipsi  filioque  eius  minitans,  ni  incolumes  sibi  mater  ac  liberi 
servarentur.     Et  stetit  domus  utraque,  sub  Othone  in- 
certum  an  metu :  Vitellius  victor  clementiae  gloriam  tulit. 

76  Primus   Othoni  fiduciam   addidit   ex  Illyrico  nuntius, 
iurasse  in  eum  Delmatiae  ac  Pannoniae  et  Moesiae  legiones. 
Idem  ex   Hispania   adlatum,    laudatusque   per   edictum 
Cluvius  Rufus:    set  statim  cognitum  est  conversam  ad 
Vitellium  Hispaniam.     Ne  Aquitania  quidem,  quanquam 
ab  lulio  Cordo  in  verba  Othonis  obstricta,  diu  mansit. 
Nusquam  fides  aut  amor:    metu  ac  necessitate  hue  illuc 
mutabantur.     Eadem  formido  provinciam  Narbonensem 
ad  Vitellium  vertit,  facili  transitu  ad  proximos  et  validi- 
ores.     Longinquae  provinciae  et  quidquid  armorum  mari 
dirimitur  penes  Othonem  manebant,  non  partium  studio, 
sed  erat  grande  momentum  in  nomine  urbis  ac  praetexto 
senatus,  et  occupaverat  animos  prior  auditus.     ludaicum 


CHAPS.  76,  77,  78.]  HISTORIES   I  43 

exercitum  Vespasianus,  Syriae  legiones  Mucianus  sacra- 
mento  Othonis  adegere;  simul  Aegyptus  omnesque  versae 
in  Orientem  provinciae  nomine  eius  tenebantur.  Idem 
Africae  obsequium  initio  Karthagine  orto;  neque  ex- 
spectata  Vipstani  Aproniani  proconsulis  auctoritate  Cres- 
cens  Neronis  libertus  (nam  et  hi  malis  temporibus  partem 
se  rei  publicae  faciunt)  epulum  plebi  ob  laetitiam  recentis 
imperii  obtulerat,  et  populus  pleraque  sine  modo  festi- 
navit.  Karthaginem  ceterae  civitates  secutae. 

Sic  distractis  exercitibus  ac  provinciis  Vitellio  quidem  77 
ad  capessendara  principatus  fortunam  bello  opus  erat, 
Otho  ut  in  multa  pace  munia  imperii  obibat,  quaedam  ex 
dignitate  rei  publicae,  pleraque  contra  decus  ex  praesenti 
usu  properando.  Consul  cum  Titiano  fratre  in  kalendas 
Martias  ipse;  proximos  menses  Verginio  destinat  ut  ali- 
quod  exercitui  Germanico  delenimentum ;  iungitur  Ver- 
ginio Pompeius  Vopiscus  praetexto  veteris  amicitiae; 
plerique  Viennensium  honori  datum  interpretabantur. 
Ceteri  consulatus  ex  destinatione  Neronis  aut  Galbae 
mansere,  Caelio  ac  Flavio  Sabinis  in  lulias,  Arrio  Antonino 
et  Mario  Celso  in  Septembres,  quorum  honoribus  ne  Vitel- 
lius  quidem  victor  intercessit.  Sed  Otho  pontificatus  au- 
guratusque  honoratis  iam  senibus  cumulum  dignitatis  ad- 
didit,  aut  recens  ab  exilio  reverses  nobiles  adulescentulos 
avitis  ac  paternis  sacerdotiis  in  solacium  recoluit.  Red- 
ditus  Cadio  Rufo,  Pedio  Blaeso,  Scaevim'o  Propinquo 
senatorius  locus.  Repetundarum  criminibus  sub  Claudio 
ac  Nerone  ceciderant :  placuit  ignoscentibus  verso  nomine, 
quod  avaritia  fuerat,  videri  maiestatem,  cuius  turn  odio 
etiam  bonae  leges  peribant. 

Eadem  largitione  civitatium  quoque  ac  provinciarum  78 
animos  adgressus  Hispalensibus  et  Emeritensibus  famili- 


44  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  78,  79. 

arum  adiectiones,  Lingonibus  universis  civitatem  Roma- 
nam,  provinciae  Baeticae  Maurorum  civitates  dono  dedit; 
nova  iura  Cappadociae,  nova  Africae,  ostentafa  magis 
quam  mansura.  Inter  quae  necessitate  praesentium 
rerum  et  instantibus  curis  excusata,  ne  turn  quidem 
inmemor  amorum  statuas  Poppaeae  per  senatus  consultum 
reposuit;  creditus  est  etiam  de  celebranda  Neronis 
memoria  agitavisse  spe  vulgus  alliciendi.  Et  fuere  qui 
imagines  Neronis  proponerent;  atque  etiam  Othoni 
quibusdam  diebus  populus  et  miles,  tanquam  nobilitatem 
ac  decus  adstruerent,  Neroni  Othoni  adclamavit.  Ipse 
in  suspenso  tenuit  vetandi  metu  vel  agnoscendi  pudore. 
79  Conversis  ad  civile  bellum  animis  externa  sine  cura 
habebantur.  Eo  audentius  Rhoxolani,  Sarmatica  gens, 
priore  hieme  caesis  duabus  cohortibus,  magna  spe  Moesiam 
inruperant,  ad  novem  milia  equitum,  ex  ferocia  et  suc- 
cessu  praedae  magis  quam  pugnae  intenta.  Igitur  vagos 
et  incuriosos  tertia  legio  adiunctis  auxiliis  repente  invasit. 
Apud  Romanos  omnia  proelio  apta:  Sarmatae  dispersi 
cupidine  praedae  aut  graves  onere  sarcinarum  et  lubrico 
itinerum  adempta  equorum  pernicitate  velut  vincti  caede- 
bantur.  Namque  mirum  dictu  ut  sit  omnis  Sarmatarum 
virtus  velut  extra  ipsos.  Nihil  ad  pedestrem  pugnam  tarn 
ignavum:  ubi  per  turmas  advenere,  vix  ulla  acies  obsti- 
terit.  Sed  turn  umido  die  et  soluto  gelu  neque  conti 
neque  gladii,  quos  praelongos  utraque  manu  regunt,  usui, 
lapsantibus  equis  et  catafractarum  pondere.  Id  prin- 
cipibus  et  nobilissimo  cuique  tegimen  ferreis  lamminis  aut 
praeduro  corio  consertum,  ut  adversus  ictus  inpenetrabile, 
ita  impetu  hostium  provolutis  inhabile  ad  resurgendum. 
Simul  altitudine  et  mollitia  nivis  hauriebantur.  Romanus 
miles  facilis  lorica  et  missili  pilo  aut  lanceis  ad  sultans,  ubi 


CHAPS.  79,  80,  81.]  HISTORIES   I  45 

res  posceret,  levi  gladio  inermem  Sarmatam  (neque  enim 
scuto  defend!  mos  est)  comminus  fodiebat,  donee  pauci, 
qui  proelio  superfuerant,  paludibus  abderentur.  Ibi 
saevitia  hiemis  aut  vulnerum  absumpti.  Postquam  id 
Romae  compertum,  M.  Aponius  Moesiam  obtinens  tri- 
umphal! statua,  Fulvus  Aurelius  et  lulianus  Tettius  ac 
Numisius  Lupus  legati  legionum  consularibus  ornamentis 
donantur,  laeto  Othone  et  gloriam  in  se  trahente,  tanquam 
et  ipse  felix  bello  et  suis  ducibus  suisque  exercitibus  rem 
publicam  auxisset. 

Parvo  interim  initio,  unde  nihil  timebatur,  orta  sedi-8O 
tio  prope  urbi  excidio  fuit.  Septumam  decumam  cohortem 
e  colonia  Ostiensi  in  urbem  acciri  Otho  iusserat ;  armandae 
eius  cura  Vario  Crispino  tribune  e  praetorianis  data.  Is 
quo  magis  vacuus  quietis  castris  iussa  exsequeretur, 
vehicula  cohortis  incipiente  nocte  onerari  aperto  arma- 
mentario  iubet.  Tempus  in  suspicionem,  causa  in  crimen, 
adfectatio  quietis  in  tumultum  evaluit,  et  visa  inter  temu- 
lentos  arma  cupidinem  sui  movere.  Fremit  miles  et 
tribunes  centurionesque  proditionis  arguit,  tanquam 
familiae  senatorum  ad  perniciem  Othonis  armarentur,  pars 
ignari  et  vino  graves,  pessimus  quisque  in  occasionem 
praedarum,  vulgus,  ut  mos  est,  cuiuscumque  motus  novi 
cupidum;  et  obsequia  meliorum  nox  abstulerat.  Resis- 
tentem  seditioni  tribunum  et  severissimos  centurionum 
obtruncant;  rapta  arma,  nudati  gladii,  insidentes  equis 
urbem  ac  Palatium  petunt. 

Erat    Othoni    celebre    convivium    primoribus   feminisSl 
virisque;   qui  trepidi,  fortuitusne  militum  furor  an  dolus 
imperatoris,  manere  ac  deprehendi  an  fugere  et  dispergi 
periculosius    foret,    modo    constantiam    simulare,    modo 
formidine  detegi,  simul  Othonis  vultum  intueri;    utque 


46  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  81,  82,  83. 

evenit  inclinatis  ad  suspicionem  mentibus,  cum  timeret 
Otho,  timebatur.  Sed  baud  secus  discrimine  senatus 
quam  suo  territus  et  praefectos  praetorii  ad  mitigandas 
militum  iras  statim  miserat  et  abire  propere  omnes  e  con- 
vivio  iussit.  Turn  vero  passim  magistratus  proiectis 
insignibus,  vitata  comitum  et  servorum  frequentia,  senes 
feminaeque  per  tenebras  diversa  urbis  itinera,  rari  domos, 
plurimi  amicorum  tecta  et,  ut  cuique  humillimus  cliens, 
incertas  latebras  petivere. 

82  Militum  impetus  ne  foribus    quidem  Palati  coercitus, 
quo  minus  convivium  inrumperent,  ostendi  sibi  Othonem 
expostulantes,  vulnerato  lulio  Martiale  tribune  et  Vitellio 
Saturnine  praefecto   legionis,   dum   ruentibus   obsistunt. 
Undique  arma  et  minae,  modo  in  centuriones  tribunosque, 
modo   in   senatum  universum,  •  lymphatis   caeco    pavore 
animis,  et  quia  neminem  unum  destinare  irae  poterant, 
licentiam  in  omnes  poscentibus,  donee  Otho  contra  decus 
imperii  toro  insistens  precibus  et  lacrimis  aegre  cohibuit, 
redieruntque  in  castra  inviti  neque  innocentes.    Postera  die 
velut  capta  urbe  clausae  domus,  rarus  per  vias  populus, 
maesta  plebs;    deiecti  in  terram  militum  vultus  ac  plus 
tristitiae  quam  paenitentiae.     Manipulatim  adlocuti  sunt 
Licinius   Proculus  et   Plotius   Firmus  praefecti,   ex   suo 
quisque  ingenio  mitius  aut  horridius.     Finis  sermonis  in 
eo,  ut  quina  milia  nummum  singulis  militibus  numera- 
rentur.     Turn  Otho  ingredi  castra  ausus.     Atque  ilium 
tribuni    centurionesque    circumsistunt,    abiectis    militiae 
insignibus  otium  et  salutem  flagitantes.     Sensit  invidiam 
miles  et  compositus  in  obsequium  auctores  seditionis  ad 
supplicium  ultro  postulabat. 

83  Otho,   quanquam   turbidis   rebus  et   diversis   militum 
animis,  cum  optimus  quisque  remedium  praesentis  licen- 


CHAPS.  83,  84.]  HISTORIES   I  47 

tiae  posceret,  vulgus  et  plures  seditionibus  et  ambitioso 
imperio  laeti  per  turbas  et  raptus  facilius  ad  civile  bellum 
inpellerentur,  simul  reputans  non  posse  principatum 
scelere  quaesitum  subita  modestia  et  prisca  gravitate 
retineri,  sed  discrimine  urbis  et  periculo  senatus  anxius, 
postremo  ita  disseruit:  'Neque  ut  adfectus  vestros  in 
amorem  mei  accenderem,  commilitones,  neque  ut  animum 
ad  virtutem  cohortarer  (utraque  enim  egregie  supersunt), 
sed  veni  postulaturus  a  vobis  temperamentum  vestrae 
fortitudinis  et  erga  me  modum  caritatis.  Tumultus 
proximi  initium  non  cupiditate  vel  odio,  quae  multos 
exercitus  in  discordiam  egere,  ac  ne  detrectatione  quidera 
aut  formidine  periculorum:  nimia  pietas  vestra  acrius 
quam  considerate  excitavit;  nam  saepe  honestas  rerum 
causas,  ni  iudicium  adhibeas,  perniciosi  exitus  consecimtur. 
Imus  ad  bellum.  Num  omnes  nuntios  palam  audiri, 
omnia  consilia  cunctis  praesentibus  tractari  ratio  rerum 
aut  occasionum  velocitas  patitur  ?  Tarn  nescire  quaedam 
milites  quam  scire  oportet:  ita  se  ducum  auctoritas,  sic 
rigor  disciplinae  habet,  ut  multa  etiam  centuriones  tri- 
bunosque  tantum  iuberi  expediat.  Si  cur  iubeantur 
quaerere  singulis  liceat,  pereunte  obsequio  etiam  imperium 
intercidet.  An  et  illic  nocte.  intempesta  rapientur  arma  ? 
Unus  alterve  perditus  ac  temulentus  (neque  enim  plures 
consternatione  proxima  insanisse  crediderim)  centurionis 
ac  tribuni  sanguine  manus  imbuet,  imperatoris  sui  tento- 
rium  inrumpet  ? ' 

'  Vos  quidem  istud  pro  me :   sed  in  discursu  ac  tenebris  84 
et  rerum  omnium  confusione  patefieri  occasio  etiam  ad- 
versus  me  potest.     Si  Vitellio  et  satellitibus  eius  eligendi 
facultas  detur,  quern  nobis  animum,  quas  mentes  inpre- 
centur,  quid  aliud  quam  seditionem  et  discordiam  opta- 


48  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  84,  85. 

bunt?  ne  miles  centurioni,  ne  centurio  tribune  obsequa- 
tur,  ut  confusi  pedites  equitesque  in  exitium  ruamus. 
Parendo  potius,  commilitones,  quam  imperia  ducum  scis- 
citando  res  militares  continentur,  et  fortissimus  in  ipso 
discrimine  exercitus  est,  qui  ante  discrimen  quietissimus. 
Vobis  arma  et  animus  sit:  mihi  consilium  et  virtutis 
vestrae  regimen  relinquite.  Paucorum  culpa  fuit,  du- 
orum  poena  erit:  ceteri  abolete  memoriam  foedissimae 
noctis.  Nee  illas  adversus  senatum  voces  ullus  usquam 
exercitus  audiat.  Caput  imperil  et  decora  omnium  pro- 
vinciarum  ad  poenam  vocare  non  hercule  illi,  quos  cum 
maxime  Vitellius  in  nos  ciet,  Germani  audeant:  ulline 
Italiae  alumni  et  Romana  vere  iuventus  ad  sanguinem  et 
caedem  depoposcerint  ordinem,  cuius  splendore  et  gloria 
sordes  et  obscuritatem  Vitellianarum  partium  praestrin- 
gimus?  Nationes  aliquas  occupavit  Vitellius,  imaginem 
quandam  exercitus  habet:  senatus  nobiscum  est;  sic  fit 
ut  hinc  res  publica,  inde  hostes  rei  publicae  constiterint. 
Quid  ?  Vos  pulcherrimam  hanc  urbem  domibus  et  tectis 
et  congestu  lapidum  stare  creditis?  Muta  ista  et  inanima 
intercidere  ac  reparari  promisca  sunt:  aeternitas  rerum 
et  pax  gentium  et  mea  cum  vestra  salus  incolumitate 
senatus  firmatur.  Hunc  auspicate  a  parente  et  conditore 
urbis  nostrae  institutum  et  a  regibus  usque  ad  principes 
continuum  et  inmortalem,  sicut  a  maioribus  accepimus, 
sic  posteris  tradamus.  Nam  ut  ex  vobis  senatores,  ita  ex 
senatoribus  principes  nascuntur.' 

85  Et  oratio  ad  perstringendos  mulcendosque  militum 
animos  et  severitatis  modus  (neque  enim  in  plures 
quam  in  duos  animadvert!  iusserat)  grate  accepta,  com- 
positique  ad  praesens  qui  coerceri  non  poterant.  Non 
tamen  quies  urbi  redierat:  strepitus  telorum  et  facies 


CHAPS.  85,  86.]  HISTORIES  I  49 

belli,  militibus  ut  nihil  in  commune  turbantibus,  ita  spar- 
sis  per  domos  occulto  habitu,  et  maligna  cura  in  omnes 
quos  nobilitas  aut  opes  aut  aliqua  insignis  claritudo  ru- 
moribus  obiecerat:  Vitellianos  quoque  milites  venisse  in 
urbem  ad  studia  partium  noscenda  plerique  credebant: 
unde  plena  omnia  suspicionum  et  vix  secreta  domuum 
sine  formidine.  Sed  plurimum  trepidationis  in  publico, 
ut  quemque  nuntium  fama  adtulisset,  animum  vultumque 
conversis,  ne  diffidere  dubiis  ac  parum  gaudere  prosperis 
viderentur.  Coacto  vero  in  curiam  senatu  arduus  rerum 
omnium  modus,  ne  contumax  silentium,  ne  suspecta  li- 
bertas ;  et  private  Othoni  nuper  atque  eadem  dicenti  nota 
adulatio.  Igitur  versare  sententias  et  hue  atque  illuc 
torquere,  hostem  et  parricidam  Vitellium  vocantes,  pro- 
videntissimus  quisque  vulgaribus  conviciis,  quidam  vera 
probra  iacere,  in  clamore  tamen  et  ubi  plurimae  voces,  aut 
tumultu  verborum  sibi  ipsi  obstrepentes. 

Prodigia  insuper  terrebant  diversis  auctoribus  vulgata :  86 
in  vestibule  Capitolii  omissas  habenas  bigae,  cui  Victoria 
institerat,  erupisse  cella  lunonis  maiorem  humana  spe- 
ciem,  statuam  divi  lulii  in  insula  Tiberini  amnis  sereno  et 
immoto  die  ab  occidente  in  orientem  conversam,  prolo- 
cutum  in  Etruria  bovem,  insolitos  animalium  partus,  et 
plura  alia  rudibus  saeculis  etiam  in  pace  observata,  quae 
nunc  tantum  in  metu  audiuntur.  Sed  praecipuus  et  cum 
praesenti  exitio  etiam  futuri  pavor  subita  inundatione 
Tiberis,  qui  inmenso  auctu  proruto  ponte  sublicio  ac 
strage  obstantis  molis  refusus,  non  modo  iacentia  et 
plana  urbis  loca,  sed  secura  eius  modi  casuum  implevit. 
Rapti  e  publico  plerique,  plures  in  tabernis  et  cubilibus 
intercept!:  fames  in  vulgus  inopia  quaestus  et  penuria 
alimentorum;  corrupta  stagnantibus  aquis  insularum 


50  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  86,  87,  88. 

fundamenta,  dein  remeante  flumine  dilapsa.  Utque 
primum  vacuus  a  periculo  animus  fuit,  id  ipsum  quod 
paranti  expeditionem  Othoni  campus  Martius  et  via  Fla- 
minia  iter  belli  esset  obstructum,  a  fortuitis  vel  naturalibus 
causis  in  prodigium  et  omen  imminentium  cladium  ver- 
tebatur. 

87  Otho  lustrata  urbe  et  expensis  belli  consiliis,  quando 
Poeninae   Cottiaeque   Alpes   et   ceteri    Galliarum   aditus 
Vitellianis  exercitibus  claudebantur,   Narbonensem  Gal- 
liam  adgredi  statuit  classe  valida  et  partibus  fida,  quod 
reliquos  caesorum  ad  pontem  Mulvium  et  saevitia  Galbae 
in  custodia  habitos  in  numeros  legionis  composuerat,  facta 
et  ceteris  spe  honoratioris  in  posterum  militiae.     Addidit 
classi  urbanas  cohortes  et  plerosque  e  praetorianis,  viris 
et  robur  exercitus  atque  ipsis  ducibus  consilium  et  cus- 
todes.     Summa    expeditionis    Antonio    Novello,    Suedio 
dementi  primipilaribus,  Aemilio  Pacensi,  cui  ademptum  a 
Galba  tribunatum  reddiderat,  permissa.     Curam  navium 
Moschus  libertus  retinebat  ad  observandam  honestiorum 
fidem  immutatus.    Peditum  equitumque  copiis  Suetonius 
Paulinus,  Marius  Celsus,  Annius  Gallus  rectores  destinati; 
sed   plurima   fides    Licinio    Proculo    praetorii   praefecto. 
Is  urbanae  militiae  impiger,  bellorum  insolens,  auctori- 
tatem  Paulini,  vigorem  Celsi,  maturitatem  Galli,  ut  cuique 
erat,  criminando,  quod  facillimum  factu  est,  pravus  et 
callidus  bonos  et  modestos  anteibat. 

88  Sepositus  per  eos  dies  Cornelius  Dolabella  in  coloniam 
Aquinatem,  neque  arta  custodia  neque  obscura,  nullum 
ob  crimen,  sed  vetusto  nomine  et  propinquitate  Galbae 
monstratus.     Multos  e  magistratibus,   magnam  consula- 
rium  partem  Otho  non  participes  aut  ministros  bello,  sed 
comitum  specie  secum  expedire  iubet,  in  quis  et  Lucium 


CHAPS.  88,  89.]  HISTORIES   I  51 

Vitellium,  eodem  quo  ceteros  cultu,  nee  ut  imperatoris 
fratrem  nee  ut  hostis.  Igitur  motae  urbis  curae;  nullus 
ordo  metu  aut  periculo  vacuus.  Primores  senatus  aetate 
invalid!  et  longa  pace  desides,  segnis  et  oblita  bellorum 
nobilitas,  ignarus  militiae  eques,  quanto  magis  occultare 
et  abdere  pavorem  nitebantur,  manifestius  pavidi.  Nee 
deerant  e  contrario  qui  ambitione  stolida  conspicua  arma, 
insignes  equos,  quidam  luxuriosos  apparatus  convivi- 
orura  et  irritamenta  libidinura  ut  instrumentum  belli 
mercarentur.  Sapientibus  quietis  et  rei  publicae  cura; 
levissimus  quisque  et  futuri  improvidus  spe  vana  tumens; 
multi  adflicta  fide  in  pace  anxii,  turbatis  rebus  alacres  et 
per  incerta  tutissimi. 

Sed  vulgus  et  magnitudine  nimia  communium  cura-  89 
rum  expers  populus  sentire  paulatim  belli  mala,  conversa 
in  militum  usum  omni  pecunia,  intentis  alimentorum  pre- 
tiis;  quae  motu  Vindicis  baud  perinde  plebem  attriverant, 
secura  turn  urbe  et  provinciali  bello,  quod  inter  legiones 
Galliasque  velut  externum  fuit.  Nam  ex  quo  divus 
Augustus  res  Caesarum  composuit,  procul  et  in  unius 
sollicitudinem  aut  decus  populus  Romanus  bellaverat; 
sub  Tiberio  et  Gaio  tantum  pacis  ad  versa  ad  rem  publicam 
pertinuere;  Scriboniani  contra  Claudium  incepta  simul 
audita  et  coercita ;  Nero  nuntiis  magis  et  rumoribus  quam 
armis  depulsus.  Turn  legiones  classesque  et,  quod  raro 
alias,  praetorianus  urbanusque  miles  in  aciem  deducti, 
Oriens  Occidensque  et  quidquid  utrimque  virium  est  a 
tergo,  si  ducibus  aliis  bellatum  foret,  longo  bello  materia. 
Fuere  qui  proficiscenti  Othoni  moras  religionemque  non- 
dum  conditorum  ancilium  adferrent:  aspernatus  est 
omnem  cunctationem  ut  Neroni  quoque  exitiosam;  et 
Caecina  iam  Alpes  transgressus  extimulabat. 


52  TACITUS  [CHAP.  90. 

9O  Pridie  idus  Martias  commendata  patribus  re  publica 
reliquias  Neronianarum  sectionum  nondum  in  fiscum 
conversas  revocatis  ab  exilio  concessit,  iustissimum  donum 
et  in  speciem  magnificum,  sed  festinata  iam  pridem 
exactione  usu  sterile.  Mox  vocata  contione  maiestatem 
urbis  et  consensum  populi  ac  senatus  pro  se  attollens, 
adversum  Vitellianas  partes  modeste  disseruit,  inscitiam 
potius  legionum  quara  audaciam  increpans,  nulla  Vitellii 
mentione,  sive  ipsius  ea  moderatio,  seu  scriptor  orationis 
sibi  metuens  contumeliis  in  Vitellium  abstinuit,  quando,  ut 
in  consiliis  militiae  Suetonio  Paulino  et  Mario  Celso,  ita 
in  rebus  urbanis  Galeri  Trachali  ingenio  Othonem  uti 
credebatur;  et  erant  qui  genus  ipsum  orandi  noscerent, 
crebro  fori  usu  celebre  et  ad  implendas  populi  aures  latum 
et  sonans.  Clamor  vocesque  vulgi  ex  more  adulandi 
nimiae  et  falsae:  quasi  dictatorem  Caesarem  aut  impera- 
torem  Augustum  prosequerentur,  ita  studiis  votisque 
certabant,  nee  metu  aut  amore,  sed  ex  libidine  servitii; 
ut  in  familiis,  privata  cuique  stimulatio,  et  vile  iam  decus 
publicum.  Profectus  Otho  quietem  urbis  curasque  im- 
perii  Salvio  Titiano  fratri  permisit. 


CORNELII  TACITI 

HISTORIARVM 

LIBER  II 

Struebat  iam  fortuna  in  diversa  parte  terrarum  initia  l 
causasque  imperio  quod  varia  sorte  laetum  rei  publicae  aut 
atrox,  ipsis  principibus  prosperum  vel  exitio  fuit.  Titus 
Vespasianus  e  ludaea  incolumi  adhuc  Galba  missus  a 
patre,  causam  profectionis  officium  erga  principem  et 
maturam  petendis  honoribus  iuventam  ferebat,  sed  vulgus 
fingendi  avidum  disperserat  accitum  in  adoptionem. 
Materia  sermonibus  senium  et  orbitas  principis  et  intem- 
perantia  civitatis,  donee  unus  eligatur,  multos  destinandi. 
Augebat  famam  ipsius  Titi  ingenium  quantaecumque  for- 
tunae  capax,  decor  oris  cum  quadam  maiestate,  prosperae 
Vespasiani  res,  praesaga  responsa,  et  inclinatis  ad  creden- 
dum  animis  loco  ominum  etiam  fortuita.  Ubi  Corinthi, 
Achaiae  urbe,  certos  nuntios  accepit  de  interitu  Galbae,  et 
aderant  qui  arma  Vitellii  bellumque  adfirmarent,  anxius 
animo  paucis  amicorum  adhibitis  cuncta  utrimque  per- 
lustrat:  si  pergeret  in  urbem,  nullam  officii  gratiam  in 
alterius  honorem  suscepti,  ac  se  Vitellio  sive  Othoni 
obsidem  fore :  sin  rediret,  offensam  baud  dubiam  victoris, 
sed  incertam  adhuc  victoriam  et  concedente  in  partes  patre 
filium  excusatum.  Sin  Vespasianus  rem  publicam  sus- 
ciperet,  obliviscendum  offensarum  de  bello  agitantibus. 

53 


54  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  2,  3,  4. 

2  His  ac  talibus  inter  spem  metumque  iactatum  spes  vicit. 
Fuerunt  qui  accensum  desiderio  Berenices  reginae  vertisse 
iter   crederent;    neque   abhorrebat   a   Berenice   iuvenilis 
animus,  sed  gerendis  rebus  nullum  ex  eo  impedimentum: 
laetam  voluptatibus  adulescentiam  egit,  suo  quam  patris 
imperio  moderatior.  Igitur  oram  Achaiae  et  Asiae  ac  laeva 
maris  praevectus,  Rhodum  et  Cyprum  insulas,  inde  Syriam 
audentioribus  spatiis  petebat.     Atque  ilium   cupido  in- 
cessit  adeundi  visendique  templum  Paphiae  Veneris  in- 
clutum  per  indigenas  advenasque.     Haud  fuerit  longum 
initia  religionis,  templi  ritum,  formam  deae  (neque  enim 
alibi  sic  habetur)  paucis  disserere. 

3  Conditorem  templi  regem  Ae'riam  vetus  memoria,  qui- 
dam  ipsius  deae  nomen  id  perhibent.     Fama  recentior 
tradit  a  Cinyra  sacratum  templum  deamque  ipsam  con- 
ceptam   mari   hue   adpulsam;     sed   scientiam   artemque 
haruspicum  accitam  et  Cilicem  Tamiram  intulisse,  atque 
ita    pactum    ut   familiae    utriusque    posteri    caerimoniis 
praesiderent.     Mox,  ne  honore  nullo  regium  genus  pere- 
grinam  stirpem  antecelleret,  ipsa  quam  intulerant  scientia 
hospites  cessere:    tantum  Cinyrades  sacerdos  consulitur. 
Hostiae,  ut  quisque  vovit,  sed  mares  deliguntur:    certis- 
sima  fides  haedorum  fibris.     Sanguinem  arae  obfundere 
vetitum:    precibus  et  igne  puro  altaria  adolentur,   nee 
ullis  imbribus  quanquam  in  aperto  madescunt.     Simula- 
crum deae  non  effigie  humana,   continuus  orbis  latiore 
initio  tenuem  in  ambitum  metae  modo  exsurgens,  set  ratio 
in  obscuro. 

4  Titus  spectata  opulentia  donisque  regum,  quaeque  alia 
laetum  antiquitatibus  Graecorum  genus  incertae  vetustati 
adfingit,    de    navigatione    primum    consulit.     Postquam 
pandi  viam  et  mare  prosperum  accepit,  de  se  per  ambages 


CHAPS.  4,  5.]  HISTORIES   II  55 

interrogat  cacsis  compluribus  hostiis.  Sostratus  (sacer- 
doti  id  nomen  erat)  ubi  laeta  et  congruentia  exta  magnis- 
que  consultis  adnuere  deam  videt,  pauca  in  praesens  et 
solita  respondens,  petito  secreto  futura  aperit.  Titus 
aucto  animo  ad  patrem  pervectus  suspensis  provinciarum 
et  exercituum  mentibus  ingens  rerum  fiducia  accessit. 

Profligaverat  bellum  ludaicum  Vespasianus,  obpugna- 
tione  Hierosolymorum  reliqua,  duro  magis  et  arduo  opere 
ob  ingenium  mentis  et  pervicaciam  superstitionis,  quam 
quo  satis  virium  obsessis  ad  tolerandas  necessitates  super- 
esset.  Tres,  ut  supra  memoravimus,  ipsi  Vespasiano 
legiones  erant,  exercitae  bello :  quattuor  Mucianus  ob- 
tinebat  in  pace,  sed  aemulatio  et  proximi  exercitus  gloria 
depulerat  segnitiam,  quantumque  illis  roboris  discrimina 
et  labor,  tantum  his  vigoris  addiderat  integra  quies  et 
inexperti  belli  rwbor.  Auxilia  utrique  cohortium  alarum- 
que  et  classes  regesque  ac  nomen  dispari  fama  celebre. 

Vespasianus  acer  militiae,  anteire  agmen,  locum  castris  5 
capere,  noctu  diuque  consilio  ac,  si  res  posceret,  manu  hos- 
tibus  obniti,  cibo  fortuito,  veste  habituque  vix  a  gregario 
milite  discrepans;  prorsus,  si  avaritia  abesset,  antiquis 
ducibus  par.  Mucianum  e  contrario  magnificentia  et  opes 
et  cuncta  privatum  modum  supergressa  extollebant;  ap- 
tior  sermone,  dispositu  provisuque  civilium  rerum  peritus : 
egregium  principatus  temperamentum,  si  demptis  utrius- 
que  vitiis  solae  virtutes  miscerentur.  Ceterum  hie  Syriae, 
ille  ludaeae  praepositus,  vicinis  provinciarum  adminis- 
trationibus  invidia  discordes,  exitu  demum  Neronis  positis 
odiis  in  medium  consuluere,  primum  per  amicos,  dein 
praecipua  concordiae  fides  Titus  prava  certamina  com- 
muni  utilitate  aboleverat,  natura  atque  arte  compositus 
adliciendis  etiam  Muciani  moribus.  Tribuni  centuri- 


56  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  5,  6,  7. 

onesque  et  vulgus  militum  industria  licentia,  per  virtutes 
per  voluptates,  lit  cuique  ingenium,  adsciscebantur. 

6  Antequam   Titus    adventaret,    sacramentum    Othonis 
acceperat  uterque  exercitus,  praecipitibus,  ut  adsolet,  nun- 
tiis  et  tarda  mole  civilis  belli,  quod  longa  concordia  quietus 
Oriens  tune  primum  parabat.     Namque  olim  validissima 
inter  se  civium  arma  in  Italia  Galliave  viribus  Occidentis 
coepta;    et  Pompeio  Cassio  Bruto  Antonio,  quos  omnes 
trans  mare  secutum  est  civile  bellum,  baud  prosperi  exitus 
fuerant,  auditique  saepius  in  Syria  ludaeaque  Caesares 
quam  inspecti.     Nulla  seditio  legionum,  tantura  adversus 
Parthos  minae  vario  eventu;   et  proximo  civili  bello  tur- 
batis  aliis  inconcussa  ibi  pax,  dein  fides  erga  Galbam. 
Mox,  ut  Othonem  ac  Vitellium  scelestis  armis  res  Roma- 
nas  raptum  ire  vulgatum  est,  ne  penes  ceteros  imperii 
praemia,    penes   ipsos   tantum   servitii   necessitas   esset, 
fremere  miles  et  vires  suas  circumspicere :  septem  legiones 
statim  et  cum  ingentibus  auxiliis  Syria  ludaeaque;   inde 
continua  Aegyptus  duaeque  legiones;    hinc  Cappadocia 
Pontusque  et  quidquid  castrorum  Armeniis  praetenditur ; 
Asia  et  ceterae  provinciae  nee  virorum  inopes  et  pecunia 
opulentae;  quantum  insularum  mari  cingitur,  et  parando 
interim  bello  secundum  tutumque  ipsum  mare. 

7  Non  fallebat  duces  impetus  militum,  sed  bellantibus 
aliis  placuit  expectari.     Bellorum  civilium  victores  vic- 
tosque  numquam  solida  fide  coalescere,  nee  referre,  Vitel- 
lium an  Othonem  superstitem  fortuna  faceret.     Rebus 
secundis  etiam  egregios  duces  insolescere :  socordiam  his, 
ignaviam,  luxuriem;    et  suismet  vitiis  alterum  bello,  al- 
terum  victoria  periturum.     Igitur  arma  in  occasionem 
distulere,   Vespasianus   Mucianusque   nuper,   ceteri   olim 
mixtis  consiliis;    optimus  quisque   amore  rei  publicae, 


CHAPS.  7,  8, 9.]  HISTORIES  II  57 

multos  dulcedo  praedarum  stimulabat,  alios  ambiguae 
domi  res.  Ita  boni  malique  causis  diversis,  studio  pari, 
bellum  omnes  cupiebant. 

Sub  idem  tempus  Achaia  atque  Asia  false  exterritae,  8 
velut  Nero  adventaret,  vario  super  exitu  eius  rumore 
eoque  pluribus  vivere  eum  fingentibus  credentibusque. 
Ceterorum  casus  conatusque  in  contextu  operis  dicemus: 
tune  servus  e  Ponto  sive,  ut  alii  tradidere,  libertinus  ex 
Italia,  citharae  et  cantus  peritus,  unde  illi  super  similitu- 
dinem  oris  pronior  ad  fallendum  fides,  adiunctis  deser- 
toribus,  quos  inopia  vagos  ingentibus  promissis  corruperat, 
mare  ingreditur;  ac  vi  tempestatum  Cythnum  insulam 
detrusus  et  militum  quosdam  ex  Oriente  commeantium 
adscivit  vel  abnuentes  interfici  iussit,  et  spoliatis  nego- 
tiatoribus  mancipiorum  valentissimum  quemque  armavit. 
Centurionemque  Sisennam  dextras,  concordiae  insignia, 
Syriaci  exercitus  nomine  ad  praetorianos  ferentem  variis 
artibus  adgressus  est,  donee  Sisenna  clam  relicta  insula 
trepidus  et  vim  metuens  aufugeret.  Inde  late  terror; 
multi  ad  celebritatem  nominis  erecti  rerum  novarum  cupi- 
dine  et  odio  praesentium.  Gliscentem  in  dies  famam  fors 
discussit. 

Galatiam  ac  Pamphyliam  provincias  Calpurnio  Aspre-9 
nati  regendas  Galba  permiserat.  Datae  e  classe  Mise- 
nensi  duae  triremes  ad  prosequendum,  cum  quibus  Cyth- 
num insulam  tenuit;  nee  defuere  qui  trierarchos  nomine 
Neronis  accirent.  Is  in  maestitiam  compositus  et  fidem 
suorum  quondam  militum  invocans,  ut  eum  in  Syria  aut 
Aegypto  sisterent,  orabat.  Trierarchi,  nutantes  seu  dolo, 
adloquendos  sibi  milites  et  paratis  omnium  animis  rever- 
suros  firmaverunt.  Sed  Asprenati  cuncta  ex  fide  nuntiata  ; 
cuius  cohortatione  expugnata  navis  et  interfectus  quisquis 


58  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  9,  10,  11. 

ille  erat.     Caput  insigne  oculis  comaque  et  torvitate  vultus 
in  Asiam  atque  inde  Romam  pervectum  est. 

10  In  civitate  discord!  et  ob   crebras  principum  muta- 
tiones  inter  libertatem  ac  licentiam  incerta  parvae  quoque 
res  magnis  motibus  agebantur.     Vibius  Crispus,  pecunia 
potentia  ingenio  inter  claros  magis  quam  inter  bonos, 
Annium    Faustum    equestris    ordinis,     qui    temporibus 
Neronis  delationes  factitaverat,  ad  cognitionem  senatus 
vocabat ;  nam  recenti  Galbae  principatu  censuerant  patres, 
ut  accusatorum  causae  noscerentur.     Id  senatus  consul- 
turn  varie  iactatum  et,  prout  potens  vel  inops  reus  in- 
ciderat,  infirmum  aut  validum,  retinebat  aliquid  terroris. 
Et  propria  vi  Crispus  incubuerat  delatorem  fratris  sui 
pervertere  traxeratque  magnam  senatus  partem,  ut  inde- 
fensum  et  inauditum  dedi  ad  exitium  postularent.     Contra 
apud  alios  nihil  aeque  reo  proderat  quam  nimia  potentia 
accusatoris :  dari  tempus,  edi  crimina,  quam  vis  invisum  ac 
nocentem  more  tamen  audiendum  censebant.     Et  valuere 
primo,  dilataque  in  paucos  dies  cognitio :  mox  damnatus 
est  Faustus  nequaquam  eo  adsensu  civitatis  quern  pessimis 
moribus  meruerat :   quippe  ipsum  Crispum  easdem  accu- 
sationes  cum  praemio  exercuisse  meminerant,  nee  poena 
criminis,  sed  ultor  displicebat. 

11  Laeta  interim  Othoni  principia  belli,  motis  ad  imperium 
eius  e  Delmatia  Pannoniaque  exercitibus.     Fuere  quattuor 
legiones,  e  quibus  bina  milia  praemissa;    ipsae  modicis 
intervallis    sequebantur,    septuma    a    Galba    conscripta, 
veteranae  undecuma  ac  tertia  decuma,  et  praecipui  fama 
quartadecumani   rebellione    Britanniae    compressa.     Ad- 
diderat  gloriam  Nero  eligendo  ut  potissimos,  unde  longa 
illis  erga  Neronem  fides  et  erecta  in  Othonem  studia. 
Sed  quo  plus  virium  ac  roboris,  e  fiducia  tarditas  inerat. 


CHAPS.  11,  12.]  HISTORIES  II  59 

Agmen  legionum  alae  cohortesque  praeveniebant.  Et  ex 
ipsa  urbe  baud  spernenda  manus,  quinque  praetoriae 
cohortes  et  equitum  vexilla  cum  legione  prima,  ac  deforme 
insuper  auxilium,  duo  milia  gladiatorum,  sed  per  civilia 
arma  etiam  severis  ducibus  usurpatum.  His  copiis  rector 
additus  Annius  Gallus,  cum  Vestricio  Spurinna  ad  occu- 
pandas  Padi  ripas  praemissus,  quoniam  prima  consiliorum 
frustra  ceciderant,  transgresso  iam  Alpes  Caecina,  quern 
sisti  intra  Gallias  posse  speraverat.  Ipsum  Othonem 
comitabantur  speculatorum  lecta  corpora  cum  ceteris 
praetoriis  cohortibus,  veterani  e  praetorio,  classicorum 
ingens  numerus.  Nee  illi  segne  aut  corruptum  luxu  iter, 
sed  lorica  ferrea  usus  est,  et  ante  signa  pedes  ire,  horridus 
incomptus  famaeque  dissimilis. 

Blandiebatur  coeptis  fortuna,  possessa  per  mare  et  12 
naves  etiam  ora  Italiae  penitus  usque  ad  initium  Mariti- 
marum  Alpium,  quibus  temptandis  adgrediendaeque 
provinciae  Narbonensi  Suedium  Clementem,  Antonium 
Novellum,  Aemilium  Pacensem  duces  dederat.  Sed 
Pacensis  per  licentiam  militum  vinctus,  Antonio  Novello 
nulla  auctoritas:  Suedius  Clemens  ambitioso  imperio 
regebat,  ut  adversus  modestiam  disciplinae  corruptus,  ita 
proeliorum  avidus.  Non  Italia  adiri  nee  loca  sedesque 
patriae  videbantur:  tanquam  externa  litora  et  urbes 
hostium  urere  vastare  rapere,  eo  atrocius  quod  nihil  us- 
quam  provisum  adversum  metus.  Pleni  agri,  apertae 
domus;  occursantes  domini  iuxta  coniuges  et  liberos 
securitate  pacis  et  belli  malo  circumveniebantur.  Ma- 
ritimas  turn  Alpes  tenebat  procurator  Marius  Maturus.  Is 
concita  gente  (nee  deest  iuventus)  arcere  provinciae  finibus 
Othonianos  intendit;  sed  primo  impetu  caesi  disiectique 
montani,  ut  quibus  temere  collectis,  non  castra,  non 


60  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  12,  13,  14. 

ducem  noscitantibus,  neque  in  victoria  decus  esset  neque 
in  fuga  flagitium. 

13  Irritatus  eo  proelio  Othonis  miles  vertit  iras  in  muni- 
cipium    Albintimilium.     Quippe   in    acie    nihil    praedae, 
inopes  agrestes  et  vilia  arma;  nee   capi  poterant,  pernix 
genus  et   gnari   locorum;    sed   calamitatibus  insontium 
expleta    avaritia.     Auxit    invidiam    praeclaro    exemplo 
femina  Ligus,  quae  filio  abdito,  cum  simul  pecuniam  oc- 
cultari  milites  credidissent  eoque  per  cruciatus  interro- 
garent,    ubi    filium   occuleret,    uterum   ostendens   latere 
respondit,  nee  ullis  deinde  terroribus  aut  morte  constan- 
tiam  vocis  egregiae  mutavit. 

14  Inminere  provinciae  Narbonensi  in  verba  Vitellii  adactae 
classem  Othonis  trepidi  nuntii  Fabio  Valenti  attulere; 
aderant  legati  coloniarum  auxilium  orantes.     Duas  Tun- 
grorum  cohortes,  quattuor  equitum  turmas,  universam 
Treverorum  alam  cum  lulio  Classico  praefecto  misit,  e 
quibus  pars  in  colonia  Foroiuliensi  retenta,  ne  omnibus 
copiis  in  terrestre  iter  versis  vacuo  mari  classis  adceleraret. 
Duodecim  equitum  turmae  et  lecti  e  cohortibus  adversus 
hostem  iere,  quibus  adiuncta  Ligurum  cohors,  vetus  loci 
auxilium,  et  quingenti  Pannonii,  nondum  sub  signis.  Nee 
mora  proelio;    et  acies  ita  instructa  ut  pars  classicorum 
mixtis   paganis    in    colles    mari    propinquos   exsurgeret, 
quantum  inter  colles  ac  litus  aequi  loci  praetorianus  miles 
expleret,  in  ipso  mari  ut  adnexa  classis  et  pugnae  parata 
conversa    et    minaci    fronte    praetenderetur.     Vitelliani, 
quibus  minor  peditum  vis,  in  equite  robur,  Alpinos  proxi- 
mis  iugis,  cohortes  densis  ordinibus  post  equitem  locant. 
Treverorum  turmae  obtulere  se  hosti  incaute,  cum  ex- 
ciperet  contra  veteranus  miles,  simul  a  latere  saxis  ur- 
gueret  apta  ad  iaciendum  etiam  paganorum  manus,  qui 


CHAPS.  14,  15,  16.]  HISTORIES  II  61 

sparsi  inter  milites,  strenui  ignavique,  in  victoria  idem 
audebant.  Additus  perculsis  terror  invecta  in  terga 
pugnantium  classe.  Ita  undique  clausi  deletaeque  omnes 
copiae  forent,  ni  victorem  exercitum  attinuisset  obscurum 
noctis,  obtentui  fugientibus. 

Nee  Vitelliani  quanquam  victi  quievere :  accitis  auxiliis  15 
securum  hostem  ac  successu  rerum  socordius  agentem 
invadunt.  Caesi  vigiles,  perrupta  castra,  trepidatum 
apud  navis,  donee  sidente  paulatim  metu,  occupato  iuxta 
colle  defensi,  mox  inrupere.  Atrox  ibi  caedes,  et  Tun- 
grarum  cohortium  praefecti  sustentata  diu  acie  telis 
obruuntur.  Ne  Othonianis  quidem  incruenta  victoria 
fuit,  quorum  inprovide  secutos  conversi  equites  circum- 
venerunt.  Ac  velut  pactis  indutiis,  ne  hinc  classis,  inde 
eques  subitam  formidinem  inferrent,  Vitelliani  retro 
Antipolim  Narbonensis  Galliae  municipium,  Othoniani 
Albingaunum  interioris  Liguriae  revertere. 

Corsicam  ac  Sardinian!  ceterasque  proximi  maris  in- 16 
sulas  fama  victricis  classis  in  partibus  Othonis  tenuit; 
sed  Corsicam  prope  adflixit  Decumi  Pacarii  procuratoris 
temeritas,  tanta  mole  belli  nihil  in  summam  profutura, 
ipsi  exitiosa.  Namque  Othonis  odio  iuvare  Vitellium 
Corsorum  viribus  statuit,  inani  auxilio,  etiamsi  provenisset. 
Vocatis  principibus  insulae  consilium  aperit,  et  contra 
dicere  ausos,  Claudium  Pyrrhicum  trierarchum  Liburni- 
carum  ibi  navium,  Quintium  Certum  equitem  Romanum, 
interfici  iubet ;  quorum  morte  exterriti  qui  aderant,  simul 
ignara  et  alieni  metus  socia  imperitorum  turba  in  verba 
Vitellii  iuravere.  Sed  ubi  dilectum  agere  Pacarius  et 
inconditos  homines  fatigare  militiae  muneribus  occepit, 
laborem  insolitum  perosi  infirmitatem  suam  reputabant: 
insulam  esse  quam  incolerent,  et  longe  Germaniam 


62  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  16,  17,  18. 

viresque  legionum;  direptos  vastatosque  classe  etiam 
quos  cohortes  alaeque  protegerent.  Et  aversi  repente 
animi,  nee  tamen  aperta  vi :  aptum  tempus  insidiis  legere. 
Digressis  qui  Pacarium  frequentabant,  nudus  et  auxilii 
inops  balineis  interficitur ;  trucidati  et  comites.  Capita 
ut  hostium  ipsi  interfectores  ad  Othonem  tulere;  neque 
eos  aut  Otho  praemio  adfecit  aut  puniit  Vitellius,  in  multa 
conluvie  rerum  maioribus  flagitiis  permixtos. 

17  Aperuerat    iam    Italiam    bellumque    transmiserat,    ut 
supra  memoravimus,  ala  Siliana,  nullo  apud  quemquam 
Othonis  favore,  nee  quia  Vitellium  mallent,   sed  longa 
pax  ad  omne  servitium  fregerat  faciles  occupantibus  et 
melioribus  incuriosos.     Florentissimum  Italiae  latus,  quan- 
tum inter  Padum  Alpesque  camporum  et  urbium,  armis 
Vitellii  (namque  et  praemissae  a  Caecina  cohortes  adve- 
nerant)  tenebatur.     Capta  Pannoniorum  cohors  apud  Cre- 
monam,  intercept!  centum  equites  ac  mille  classici  inter 
Placentiam  Ticinumque.     Quo  successu  Vitellianus  miles 
non  iam  flumine  aut  ripis  arcebatur ;  inritabat  quin  etiam 
Batavos   transrhenanosque    Padus    ipse,    quern    repente 
contra  Placentiam  transgressi  raptis  quibusdam  explora- 
toribus  ita  ceteros  terruere  ut  adesse  omnem  Caecinae 
exercitum  trepidi  ac  falsi  nuntiarent. 

18  Certum  erat  Spurinnae  (is  enim  Placentiam  optinebat) 
necdum  venisse  Caecinam  et,  si  propinquaret,  coercere 
intra  munimenta  militem  nee  tris  praetorias  cohortes  et 
mille  vexillarios  cum  paucis  equitibus  veterano  exercitui 
obicere;    sed  indomitus  miles  et  belli  ignarus  correptis 
signis  vexillisque  ruere  et  retinenti  duci  tela  intentare, 
spretis  centurionibus  tribunisque:    quin  prodi  Othonem 
et  accitum  Caecinam  clamitabant.     Fit  temeritatis  alienae 
comes  Spurinna,  primo  coactus,  mox  velle  simulans,  quo 
plus  auctoritatis  inesset  consiliis,  si  seditio  mitesceret. 


CHAPS.  19,  20,  21.]  HISTORIES   II  63 

Postquam  in  conspectu  Padus  et  nox  adpetebat,  vallari  19 
castra  placuit.  Is  labor  urbano  militi  insolitus  con- 
tundit  animos.  Turn  vetustissimus  quisque  castigare 
credulitatem  suam,  metum  ac  discrimen  ostendere,  si 
cum  exercitu  Caecina  patentibus  campis  tarn  paucas  co- 
hortes  circumfudisset.  lamque  totis  castris  modesti 
sermones,  et  inserentibus  se  centurionibus  tribunisque 
laudari  providentia  ducis,  quod  coloniam  virium  et  opum 
validam  robur  ac  sedera  bello  legisset.  Ipse  postremo 
Spurinna,  non  tarn  culpam  exprobrans  quam  rationem  os- 
tendens,  relictis  exploratoribus  ceteros  Placentiam  reduxit 
minus  turbidos  et  imperia  accipientes.  Solidati  muri, 
propugnacula  addita,  auctae  turres,  provisa  parataque 
non  arma  modo,  sed  obsequium  et  parendi  amor,  quod 
solum  illis  partibus  defuit,  cum  virtutis  baud  paeniteret. 

At  Caecina,  velut  relicta  post  Alpes  saevitia  ac  licentia,  20 
modesto  agmine  per  Italiam  incessit.  Ornatum  ipsius 
municipia  et  coloniae  in  superbiam  trahebant,  quod  ver- 
sicolori  sagulo,  bracas  indutus  togatos  adloqueretur, 
uxoremque  eius  Saloninam,  quod  quanquam  in  nullius 
iniuriam  insignis  equo  ostroque  veheretur,  tanquam  laesi 
gravabantur,  insita  mortalibus  natura  recentem  aliorum 
felicitatem  acribus  oculis  introspicere  modumque  fortunae 
a  nullis  magis  exigere  quam  quos  in  aequo  viderunt. 
Caecina  Padum  transgressus,  temptata  Othonianorum 
fide  per  conloquium  et  promissa,  isdem  petitus,  postquam 
pax  et  concordia  speciosis  et  inritis  nominibus  iactata 
sunt,  consilia  curasque  in  oppugnationem  Placentiae 
magno  terrore  vertit,  gnarus,  ut  initia  belli  provenissent, 
famam  in  cetera  fore. 

Sed  primus  dies  impetu  magis  quam  veterani  exercitus  21 
artibus  transactus :   aperti  incautique  muros  subiere,  cibo 


64  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  21,  22. 

vinoque  praegraves.  In  eo  certamine  pulcherrimum  am- 
phitheatri  opus  situm  extra  muros  conflagravit,  sive  ab  op- 
pugnatoribus  incensum,  dum  faces  et  glandes  et  missilem 
ignem  in  obsessos  iaculantur,  sive  ab  obsessis,  dum  paria 
regerunt.  Municipale  vulgus,  pronum  ad  suspiciones, 
fraude  inlata  ignis  alimenta  credidit  a  quibusdam  ex 
vicinis  coloniis  invidia  et  aemulatione,  quod  nulla  in  Italia 
moles  tarn  capax  foret.  Quocumque  casu  accidit,  dum 
atrociora  metuebantur,  in  levi  habitum,  reddita  securitate, 
tanquam  nihil  gravius  pati  potuissent,  maerebant.  Ce- 
terum  multo  suorum  cruore  pulsus  Caecina,  et  nox  parandis 
operibus  absumpta.  Vitelliani  pluteos  cratesque  et  vineas 
subfodiendis  muris  protegendisque  obpugnatoribus,  Otho- 
niani  sudes  et  inmensas  lapidum  ac  plumbi  aerisque  moles 
perfringendis  obruendisque  hostibus  expediunt.  Utrim- 
que  pudor,  utrimque  gloria,  et  diversae  exhortationes 
hinc  legionum  et  Germanici  exercitus  robur,  inde  ur- 
banae  militiae  et  praetoriarum  cohortium  decus  attol- 
lentium:  illi  ut  segnem  et  desidem  et  circo  ac  theatris 
corruptum  militem,  hi  peregrinum  et  externum  increpa- 
bant.  Simul  Othonem  ac  Vitellium  celebrantes  culpan- 
tesve  uberioribus  inter  se  probris  quam  laudibus  stimula- 
bantur. 

22  Vixdum  orto  die  plena  propugnatoribus  moenia,  ful- 
gentes  armis  virisque  campi;  densum  legionum  agmen, 
sparsa  auxiliorum  manus  altiora  murorum  sagittis  aut 
saxis  incessere,  neglecta  aut  aevo  fluxa  comminus  adgredi. 
Ingerunt  desuper  Othoniani  pila  librato  magis  et  certo 
ictu  adversus  temere  subeuntes  cohortes  Germanorum, 
cantu  truci  et  more  patrio  nudis  corporibus  super  umeros 
scuta  quatientium.  Legionarius  pluteis  et  cratibus  tectus 
subruit  muros,  instruit  aggerem,  molitur  portas:  contra 


CHAPS.  22,  23.]  HISTORIES   II  65 

praetorian!  dispositos  ad  id  ipsum  molares  ingenti  pondere 
ac  fragore  provolvunt.  Pars  subeuntium  obruti,  pars 
confixi  et  exsangues  aut  laceri :  cum  augeret  stragem  trepi- 
datio  eoque  acrius  e  moenibus  vulnerarentur,  rediere 
infracta  partium  fama.  Et  Caecina  pudore  coeptae 
temere  obpugnationis,  ne  inrisus  ac  vanus  isdem  castris 
adsideret,  traiecto  rursus  Pado  Cremonam  petere  intendit. 
Tradidere  sese  abeunti  Turullius  Cerialis  cum  compluri- 
bus  classicis  et  lulius  Briganticus  cum  paucis  equitum, 
hie  praefectus  alae  in  Batavis  genitus,  ille  primipilaris 
et  Caecinae  baud  alienus,  quod  ordines  in  Germania 
duxerat. 

Spurinna  comperto  itinere  hostium  defensam  Placen-23 
tiam,  quaeque  acta  et  quid  Caecina  pararet,  Annium  Gal- 
lum  per  litteras  docet.  Gallus  legionem  primam  in  auxi- 
lium  Placentiae  ducebat,  diffisus  paucitati  cohortium,  ne 
longius  obsidium  et  vim  Germanici  exercitus  parum  tole- 
rarent.  Ubi  pulsum  Caecinam  pergere  Cremonam  ac- 
cepit,  aegre  coercitam  legionem  et  pugnandi  ardore  usque 
ad  seditionem  progressam  Bedriaci  sistit.  Inter  Veronam 
Cremonamque  situs  est  vicus,  duabus  iam  Romanis  cladi- 
bus  notus  infaustusque. 

Isdem  diebus  a  Martio  Macro  baud  procul  Cremona  pro- 
spere  pugnatum ;  namque  promptus  animi  Marcius  trans- 
vectos  navibus  gladiatores  in  adversam  Padi  ripam  re- 
pente  effudit.  Turbata  ibi  Vitellianorum  auxilia,  et 
ceteris  Cremonam  fugientibus  caesi  qui  restiterant:  sed 
repressus  vincentium  impetus,  ne  novis  subsidiis  firmati 
hostes  fortunam  proelii  mutarent.  Suspectum  id  Otho- 
nianis  fuit,  omnia  ducum  facta  prave  aestimantibus. 
Certatim,  ut  quisque  animo  ignavus,  procax  ore,  Annium 
Gallum  et  Suetonium  Paulinum  et  Marium  Celsum  (nam 


66  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  23,  24,  25. 

eos  quoque  Otho  praefecerat)  variis  criminibus  incesse- 
bant.  Acerrima  seditionum  ac  discordiae  incitamenta, 
interfectores  Galbae,  scelere  et  metu  vaecordes  miscere 
cuncta,  modo  palam  turbidis  vocibus,  modo  occultis  ad 
Othonem  litteris;  qui  humillimo  cuique  credulus,  bonos 
metuens  trepidabat,  rebus  prosperis  incertus  et  inter 
adversa  melior.  Igitur  Titianum  fratrem  accitum  bello 
praeposuit. 

24  Interea  Paulini  et  Celsi  ductu  res  egregie  gestae.     Ange- 
bant   Caecinam   nequiquam   omnia   coepta   et   senescens 
exercitus  sui  fama.     Pulsus  Placentia,  caesis  nuper  auxiliis, 
etiam  per  concursum  exploratorum,  crebra  magis  quam 
digna   memoratu   proelia,    inferior,    propinquante   Fabio 
Valente,  ne  omne  belli  decus  illuc  concederet,  reciperare 
gloriam  avidius  quam  consultius  properabat.     Ad  duo- 
decumum  a  Cremona  (locus  Castorum  vocatur)  ferocissi- 
mos  auxiliarium  inminentibus  viae  lucis  occultos  componit ; 
equites  procedere  longius  iussi  et  inritato  proelio  sponte 
refugi  festinationem  sequentium   elicere,   donee  insidiae 
coorerentur.     Proditum  id  Othonianis  ducibus,  et  curam 
peditum    Paulinus,    equitum    Celsus    sumpsere.     Tertiae 
decumae  legionis  vexillum,  quattuor  auxiliorum  cohortes 
et  quingenti  equites  in  sinistro  locantur;    aggerem  viae 
tres  praetoriae  cohortes  altis  -ordinibus  obtinuere ;   dextra 
fronte    prima    legio    incessit    cum    duabus    auxiliaribus 
cohortibus  et  quingentis  equitibus:   super  hos  e  praetorio 
auxiliisque  mille  equites,  cumulus  prosperis  aut  subsidium 
laborantibus,  ducebantur. 

25  Antequam  miscerentur  acies,  terga  vertentibus  Vitel- 
lianis,  Celsus  doli  prudens  repressit  suos :  Vitelliani  temere 
exsurgentes,  cedente  sensim  Celso  longius  secuti  ultro  in 
insidias  praecipitantur;    nam  a  lateribus  cohortes,  legio- 


CHAPS.  25,  26,  27.]  HISTORIES   II  67 

num  adversa  frons,  et  subito  discursu  terga  cinxerat 
eques.  Signum  pugnae  non  statim  a  Suetonio  Paulino 
pediti  datum:  cunctator  natura  et  cui  cauta  potius  con- 
silia  cum  ratione  quam  prospera  ex  casu  placerent,  com- 
pleri  fossas,  aperiri  campum,  pandi  aciem  iubebat,  satis 
cito  incipi  victoriam  ratus,  ubi  provisum  foret,  ne  vin- 
cerentur.  Ea  cunctatione  spatium  Vitellianis  datum  in 
vineas  nexu  traducum  impeditas  refugiendi;  et  modica 
silva  adhaerebat,  unde  rursus  ausi  promptissimos  prae- 
torianorum  equitum  interfecere.  Vulneratur  rex  Epi- 
phanes,  impigre  pro  Othone  pugnam  ciens. 

Turn  Othonianus  pedes  erupit;  protrita  hostium  acie26 
versi  in  fugam  etiam  qui  subveniebant;  nam  Caecina  non 
simul  cohortes,  sed  singulas  acciverat,  quae  res  in  proelio 
trepidationem  auxit,  cum  disperses  nee  usquam  validos 
pavor  fugientium  abriperet.  Orta  et  in  castris  seditio, 
quod  non  universi  ducerentur:  vinctus  praefectus  cas- 
trorum  lulius  Gratus,  tanquam  fratri  apud  Othonem  mili- 
tanti  proditionem  ageret,  cum  fratrem  eius,  lulium  Fron- 
tonem  tribunum,  Othoniani  sub  eodem  crimine  vinxissent. 
Ceterum  ea  ubique  formido  fuit  apud  fugientes  occursantes, 
in  acie  pro  vallo,  ut  deleri  cum  universo  exercitu  Caeci- 
nam  potuisse,  ni  Suetonius  Paulinus  receptui  cecinisset, 
utrisque  in  partibus  percrebruerit.  Timuisse  se  Paulinus 
ferebat  tantum  insuper  laboris  atque  itineris,  ne  Vitelli- 
anus  miles  recens  e  castris  fessos  adgrederetur  et  perculsis 
nullum  retro  subsidium  foret.  Apud  paucos  ea  ducis 
ratio  probata,  in  vulgus  adverse  rumore  fuit. 

Haud  perinde  id  damnum  Vitellianos  in  metum  com- 27 
pulit  quam  ad  modestiam  composuit,  nee  solum  apud 
Caecinam,   qui  culpam  in  militem  conferebat,  seditioni 
magis   quam   proelio   paratum:     Fabii   quoque    Valentis 


68  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  27,  28,  29. 

copiae  (iam  enim  Ticinum  venerat)  posito  hostium  con- 
temptu  et  reciperandi  decoris  cupidine  reverentius  et 
aequalius  duel  parebant.  Gravis  alioquin  seditio  exar- 
serat,  quam  altiore  initio  (neque  enim  rerum  a  Caecina 
gestarum  ordinem  interrumpi  oportuerat)  repetam.  Co- 
hortes  Batavorum,  quas  bello  Neronis  a  quarta  decuma 
legione  digressas,  cum  Britanniam  peterent,  audito  Vitellii 
motu  in  civitate  Lingonum  Fabio  Valenti  adiunctas  ret- 
tulimus,  superbe  agebant,  ut  cuiusque  legionis  tentoria 
accessissent,  coercitos  a  se  quartadecumanos,  ablatam  Ne- 
roni  Italiam  atque  omnem  belli  fortunam  in  ipsorum 
manu  sitam  iactantes.  Contumeliosum  id  militibus,  acer- 
bum  duci;  corrupta  iurgiis  aut  rixis  disciplina;  ad  pos- 
tremum  Valens  e  petulantia  etiam  perfidiam  suspectabat. 

28  Igitur  nuntio   adlato  pulsam  Treverorum   alam  Tun- 
grosque  a  classe  Othonis  et  Narbonensem  Galliam  circum- 
iri,  simul  cura  socios  tuendi  et  militari  astu  cohortes  tur- 
bidas  ac,  si  una  forent,  praevalidas  dispergendi,  partem 
Batavorum  ire  in  subsidium  iubet.     Quod  ubi  auditum 
vulgatumque,  maerere  socii,'  fremere  legiones:    orbari  se 
fortissimorum  virorum  auxilio;    veteres  illos  et  tot  bel- 
lorum  victores,  postquam  in  conspectu  sit  hostis,  velut 
ex  acie  abduci.     Si  provincia  urbe  et  salute  imperil  potior 
sit,   omnes  illuc  sequerentur;    sin  victoriae  columen  in 
Italia  verteretur,  non  abrumpendos  ut  corpori  validissi- 
mos  artus. 

29  Haec  ferociter  iactando,  postquam  inmissis  lictoribus 
Valens  coercere  seditionem  coeptabat,  ipsum  invadunt, 
saxa  iaciunt,  fugientem  secuntur.     Spolia  Galliarum  et 
Viennensium   aurum,   pretia  laborum  suorum,   occultari 
clamitantes,  direptis  sarcinis  tabernacula  ducis  ipsamque 
humum  pilis  et  lanceis  rimabantur;    nam  Valens  servili 


CHAPS.  29,  30.]  HISTORIES   II  69 

veste  apud  decurionem  equitum  tegebatur.  Turn  Alfenus 
Varus  praefectus  castrorum,  deflagrante  paulatim  sedi- 
tione,  addit  consilium,  vetitis  obire  vigilias  centurionibus, 
omisso  tubae  sono,  quo  miles  ad  belli  munia  cietur.  Igitur 
torpere  cuncti,  circumspectare  inter  se  attoniti  et  id  ipsum, 
quod  nemo  regeret,  paventes ;  silentio  patientia,  postremo 
precibus  ac  lacrimis  veniam  quaerebant.  Ut  vero  de- 
formis  et  flens  et  praeter  spem  incolumis  Valens  processit, 
gaudium  miseratio  favor :  versi  in  laetitiam,  ut  est  vulgus 
utroque  inmodicum,  laudantes  gratantesque  circumdatum 
aquilis  signisque  in  tribunal  ferunt.  Ille  utili  moderatione 
non  supplicium  cuiusquam  poposcit,  ac  ne  dissimulans 
suspectior  foret,  paucos  incusavit,  gnarus  civilibus  bellis 
plus  militibus  quam  ducibus  licere. 

Munientibus  castra  apud  Ticinum  de  adversa  CaecinaeSO 
pugna  adlatum,  et  prope  renovata  seditio,  tanquam 
fraude  et  cunctationibus  Valentis  proelio  defuissent: 
nolle  requiem,  non  expectare  ducem,  anteire  signa,  ur- 
guere  signiferos;  rapido  agmine  Caecinae  iunguntur. 
Inprospera  Valentis  fama  apud  exercitum  Caecinae  erat: 
expositos  se  tanto  pauciores  integris  hostium  viribus 
querebantur,  simul  in  suam  excusationem  et  adventan- 
tium  robur  per  adulationem  attollentes,  ne  ut  victi  et 
ignavi  despectarentur.  Et  quanquam  plus  virium,  prope 
duplicatus  legionum  auxiliorumque  numerus  erat  Valenti, 
studia  tamen  militum  in  Caecinam  inclinabant,  super 
benignitatem  animi,  qua  promptior  habebatur,  etiam 
vigore  aetatis,  proceritate  corporis  et  quodam  inani  favore. 
Hinc  aemulatio  ducibus:  Caecina  ut  foedum  ac  macu- 
losum,  ille  ut  tumidum  ac  vanum  inridebant.  Sed  condito 
odio  eandem  utilitatem  fovere,  crebris  epistulis  sine  re- 
spectu  veniae  probra  Othoni  obiectantes,  cum  duces  par- 


70  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  30,  31,  32. 

tium  Othonis  quamvis  uberrima  conviciorum  in  Vitellium 
materia  abstinerent. 

31  Sane  ante  utriusque  exitum,  quo  egregiam  Otho  famam, 
Vitellius  flagitiosissimam  meruere,  minus  Vitellii  ignavae 
voluptates  quam  Othonis  flagrantissimae  libidines  time- 
bantur :  addiderat  huic  terrorem  atque  odium  caedes  Gal- 
bae,  contra  illi  initium  belli  nemo  inputabat.     Vitellius 
ventre  et  gula  sibi  inhonestus,  Otho  luxu  saevitia  audacia 
rei  publicae  exitiosior  ducebatur. 

Coniunctis  Caecinae  ac  Valentis  copiis  nulla  ultra  penes 
Vitellianos  mora  quin  totis  viribus  certarent:  Otho  con- 
sultavit,  trahi  bellum  an  fortunam  experiri  placeret. 

32  Tune    Suetonius    Paulinus    dignum    fama    sua    ratus, 
quia  nemo  ilia  tempestate  militaris  rei  callidior  habebatur, 
de  toto  genere  belli  censere,  festinationem  hostibus,  moram 
ipsis  utilem  disseruit :   exercitum  Vitellii  universum  adve- 
nisse,  nee  multum  virium  a-  tergo,  quoniam  Galliae  tu- 
meant  et  deserere  Rheni  ripam  inrupturis  tarn  infestis 
nationibus  non  conducat;    Britannicum  militem  hoste  et 
mari  distineri;    Hispanias  armis  non  ita  redundare;   pro- 
vinciam  Narbonensem  incursu  classis  et  adverso  proelio 
contremuisse ;    clausam  Alpibus  et  nullo  maris  subsidio 
transpadanam  Italiam  atque  ipso  transitu  exercitus  vas- 
tam;    non  frumentum  usquam  exercitui,  nee  exercitum 
sine  copiis  retineri  posse:    iam  Germanos,   quod  genus 
militum  apud  hostis  atrocissimum  sit,  tracto  in  aestatem 
bello,  fluxis  corporibus,   mutationem  soli  caelique  baud 
toleraturos.     Multa   bella   impetu   valida   per   taedia   et 
moras  evanuisse.     Contra  ipsis  omnia  opulenta  et  fida, 
Pannoniam  Moesiam  Delmatiam  Orientem  cum  integris 
exercitibus,  Italiam  et  caput  rerum  urbem  senatumque  et 
populum,  numquam  obscura  nomina,  etiam  si  aliquando 


CHAPS.  32,  33,  34.]  HISTORIES   II  71 

obumbrentur;  publicas  privatasque  opes  et  inmensam 
pecuniam,  inter  civiles  discordias  ferro  validiorem; 
corpora  rnilitum  aut  Italiae  sueta  aut  aestibus;  obiacere 
flumen  Padum,  tutas  viris  murisque  urbes,  e  quibus  nullam 
hosti  cessuram  Placentiae  defensione  exploratum.  Pro- 
inde  duceret  bellum.  Paucis  diebus  quartam  decumam 
legionem,  magna  ipsam  fama,  cum  Moesicis  copiis  adfore: 
turn  rursus  deliberaturum  et,  si  proelium  placuisset,  auctis 
viribus  certaturos. 

Accedebat  sententiae  Paulini  Marius  Celsus ;  idem  pla-  33 
cere  Annio  Gallo,  paucos  ante  dies  lapsu  equi  adflicto, 
missi  qui  consilium  eius  sciscitarentur  rettulerant.  Otho 
pronus  ad  decertandum ;  frater  eius  Titianus  et  praefectus 
praetorii  Proculus,  imperitia  properantes,  fortunam  et 
deos  et  numen  Othonis  adesse  consiliis,  adfore  conatibus 
testabantur,  neu  quis  obviam  ire  sententiae  auderet,  in 
adulationem  concesserant.  Postquam  pugnari  placitum, 
interesse  pugnae  imperatorem  an  seponi  melius  foret 
dubitavere.  Paulino  et  Celso  iam  non  adversantibus,  ne 
principem  obiectare  periculis  viderentur,  idem  illi  deteri- 
oris  consilii  auctores  perpulere,  ut  Brixellum  concederet 
ac  dubiis  proeliorum  exemptus  summae  rerum  et  im- 
perii  se  ipsum  reservaret.  Is  primus  dies  Othonianas 
partes  adflixit ;  namque  et  cum  ipso  praetoriarum  cohor- 
tium  et  speculatorum  equitumque  valida  manus  discessit, 
et  remanentium  fractus  animus,  quando  suspecti  duces 
et  Otho,  cui  uni  apud  militem  fides,  dum  et  ipse  non  nisi 
militibus  credit,  imperia  ducum  in  incerto  reliquerat. 

Nihil  eorum  Vitellianos  fallebat,   crebris,  ut  in  civilis* 
bello,  transfugiis;  et  exploratores  cura  diversa  sciscitandi 
sua  non  occultabant.     Quieti  intentique  Caecina  ac  Va- 
lens,  quando  hostis  inprudentia  rueret,  quod  loco  sapi- 


72  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  34,  35,  36. 

entiae  est,  alienam  stultitiam  opperiebantur,  incohato 
ponte  transitum  Padi  simulantes  adversus  obpositam 
gladiatorum  manum,  ac  ne  ipsorum  miles  segne  otium 
tereret.  Naves  pari  inter  se  spatio,  validis  utrimque  trabi- 
bus  conexae,  adversum  in  flumen  dirigebantur,  iactis 
super  ancoris,  quae  firmitatem  pontis  continerent,  sed 
ancorarum  funes  non  extenti  fluitabant,  ut  augescente 
flumine  inoffensus  ordo  navium  attolleretur.  Claudebat 
pontem  inposita  turris  et  in  extremam  navem  educta, 
unde  tormentis  ac  machinis  hostes  propulsarentur.  Otho- 
niani  in  ripa  turrim  struxerant  saxaque  et  faces  iacula- 
bantur. 

35  Et  erat  insula  amne  medio,  in  quam  gladiatores  navibus 
molientes,    Germani    nando    praelabebantur.     Ac    forte 
plures  transgresses  completis  Liburnicis  per  promptissi- 
mos  gladiatorum  Macer  adgreditur;    sed  neque  ea  con- 
stantia    gladiatoribus    ad    proelia    quae    militibus,    nee 
perinde  nutantes  e  navibus  quam  stabili  gradu  e  ripa  vul- 
nera  derigebant.     Et   cum  variis  trepidantium  inclina- 
tionibus   mixti    remiges   propugnatoresque    turbarentur, 
desilire  in  vada  ultro  Germani,  retentare  puppes,  scandere 
foros  aut  comminus  mergere;  quae  cuncta  in  oculis  utrius- 
que  exercitus   quanto  laetiora  Vitellianis,   tanto  acrius 
Othoniani  causam  auctoremque  cladis  detestabantur. 

36  Et  proelium  quidem,  abruptis  quae  supererant  navibus, 
fuga  diremptum:  Macer  ad  exitium  poscebatur,  iamque 
vulneratum  eminus  lancea  strictis  gladiis  invaserant,  cum 
intercursu  tribunorum  centurionumque  protegitur.     Nee 
multo  post   Vestricius   Spurinna  iussu   Othonis,   relicto 
Placentiae  modico  praesidio,   cum  cohortibus  subvenit. 
Dein  Flavium  Sabinum  consulem  designatum  Otho  rec- 
torem  copiis  misit  quibus  Macer  praefuerat,  laeto  milite 


CHAPS.  36,  37,  38.]  HISTORIES  II  73 

ad  mutationem  ducum  et  ducibus  ob  crebras  seditiones 
tarn  infestam  militiam  aspernantibus. 

Invenio  apud  quosdam  auctores,  pavore  belli  seu  fastidio  37 
utriusque  principis,  quorum  flagitia  ac  dedecus  apertiore 
in  dies  fama  noscebantur,  dubitasse  exercitus,  num  posito 
certamine  vel  ipsi  in  medium  consultarent,  vel  senatui 
permitterent  legere  imperatorem,  atque  eo  duces  Othonia- 
nos  spatium  ac  moras  suasisse,  praecipua  spe  Paulini,  quod 
vetustissimus  consularium  et  militia  clarus  gloriam  nomen- 
que  Britannicis  expeditionibus  meruisset.  Ego  ut  con- 
cesserim  apud  paucos  tacito  voto  quietem  pro  discordia, 
bonum  et  innocentem  principem  pro  pessimis  ac  flagiti- 
osissimis  expetitum,  ita  neque  Paulinum,  qua  prudentia 
fuit,  sperasse  corruptissimo  saeculo  tantam  vulgi  modera- 
tionem  reor,  ut  qui  pacem  belli  amore  turbaverant,  bellum 
pacis  caritate  deponerent,  neque  aut  exercitus  linguis 
moribusque  dissonos  in  hunc  consensum  potuisse  coales- 
cere,  aut  legates  ac  duces  magna  ex  parte  luxus  egestatis 
scelerum  sibi  conscios  nisi  pollutum  obstrictumque  meritis 
suis  principem  passuros. 

Vetus  ac  iam  pridem  insita  mortalibus  potentiae  cupido  38 
cum  imperii  magnitudine  adolevit  erupitque;  nam  rebus 
modicis  aequalitas  facile  habebatur.  Sed  ubi  subacto 
orbe  et  aemulis  urbibus  regibusve  excisis  securas  opes 
concupiscere  vacuum  fuit,  prima  inter  patres  plebemque 
certamina  exarsere.  Modo  turbulenti  tribuni,  modo  con- 
sules  praevalidi,  et  in  urbe  ac  foro  temptamenta  civilium 
bellorum ;  mox  e  plebe  infima  C.  Marius  et  nobilium  saevis- 
simus  L.  Sulla  victam  armis  libertatem  in  dominationem 
verterunt.  Post  quos  Cn.  Pompeius  occultior,  non  melior, 
et  nunquam  postea  nisi  de  principatu  quaesitum.  Non 
discessere  ab  armis  in  Pharsalia  ac  Philippis  civium 


74  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  38,  39,  40. 

legiones,  nedum  Othonis  ac  Vitellii  exercitus  sponte 
posituri  bellum  fuerint:  eadem  illos  deum  ira,  eadem 
hominum  rabies,  eaedem  scelerum  causae  in  discordiam 
egere.  Quod  singulis  velut  ictibus  transacta  sunt  bella, 
ignavia  principum  factum  est.  Sed  me  veterum  novo- 
rumque  morum  reputatio  longius  tulit:  nunc  ad  rerum 
ordinem  venio. 

39  Profecto  Brixellum  Othone  honor  imperil  penes  Ti- 
tianum  fratrem,  vis  ac  potestas  penes  Proculum  prae- 
fectum;  Celsus  et  Paulinus,  cum  prudentia  eorum  nemo 
uteretur,  inani  nomine  ducum  alienae  culpae  praetende- 
bantur;    tribuni    centurionesque   ambigui,    quod   spretis 
melioribus  deterrimi  valebant ;    miles  alacer,  qui  tamen 
iussa  ducum  interpretari  quam  exequi  mallet.     Promo- 
veri  ad  quartum  a  Bedriaco  castra  placuit,  adeo  imperite 
ut  quanquam  verno  tempore  anni  et  tot  circum  amnibus 
penuria  aquae  fatigarentur.     Ibi  de  proelio  dubitatum, 
Othone  per  litteras  flagitante  ut  maturarent,  militibus  ut 
imperator  pugnae  adesset  poscentibus:    plerique  copias 
trans  Padum  agentes  acciri  postulabant.    Nee  perinde 
diiudicari  potest,  quid  optimum  factu  fuerit,  quam  pes- 
simum  fuisse  quod  factum  est. 

40  Non  ut  ad  pugnam  sed  ad  bellandum  profecti  conflu- 
entes  Padi  et  Aduae  fluminum,  XXV  inde  milium  spatio 
distantes,  petebant.    Celso  et  Paulino  abnuentibus  mili- 
tem  itinere  fessum,  sarcinis  gravem  obicere  hosti,  non 
omissuro    quo  minus   expeditus   et  vix   quattuor  milia 
passuum  progressus  aut  incompositos  in  agmine  aut  dis- 
perses   et   vallum    molientes    adgrederetur,    Titianus    et 
Proculus,  ubi  consiliis  vincerentur,  ad  ius  imperii  transi- 
bant.     Aderat  sane  citus  equo  Numida  cum  atrocibus 
mandatis,  quibus  Otho  increpita  ducum  segnitia  rem  in 
discrimen  mitti  iubebat,  aeger  mora  et  spei  inpatiens. 


CHAPS.  41,  42.]  HISTORIES   II  75 

Eodem  die  ad  Caecinam  operi  pontis  intentum  duo  41 
praetoriarum  cohortium  tribuni  conloquium  eius  postu- 
lantes  venerant:  audire  condiciones  ac  reddere  parabat, 
cum  praecipites  exploratores  adesse  hostem  nuntiavere. 
Interruptus  tribunorum  sermo,  eoque  incertum  fuit,  in- 
sidias  an  proditionem  vel  aliquod  honestum  consilium 
coeptaverint.  Caecina  dimissis  tribunis  revectus  in  castra 
datum  iussu  Fabii  Valentis  pugnae  signum  et  militem  in 
armis  invenit.  Dum  legiones  de  ordine  agminis  sortiuntur, 
equites  prorupere;  et  mirum  dictu,  a  paucioribus  Otho- 
nianis  quo  minus  in  vallum  inpingerentur,  Italicae  legionis 
virtute  deterriti  sunt :  ea  strictis  mucronibus  redire  pulsos 
et  pugnam  resumere  coe'git.  Disposita  Vitellianarum  le- 
gionum  acies  sine  trepidatione ;  etenim  quanquam  vi- 
cino  hoste  adspectus  armorum  densis  arbustis  prohibe- 
batur.  Apud  Othonianos  pavidi  duces,  miles  ducibus 
infensus,  mixta  vehicula  et  lixae,  et  praeruptis  utrimque 
fossis  via  quieto  quoque  agmini  angusta.  Circumsistere 
alii  signa  sua,  quaerere  alii;  incertus  undique  clamor 
adcurrentium  vocantium :  ut  cuique  audacia  vel  formido, 
in  primam  postremamve  aciem  prorumpebant  aut  rela- 
bebantur. 

Attonitas  subito  terrore  mentes  falsum  gaudium  in  42 
languorem  vertit,  repertis  qui  descivisse  a  Vitellio  exer- 
citum  ementirentur.  Is  rumor  ab  exploratoribus  Vitellii 
dispersus,  an  in  ipsa  Othonis  parte  seu  dolo  seu  forte 
surrexerit,  parum  compertum.  Omisso  pugnae  ardore 
Othoniani  ultro  salutavere;  et  hostili  murmure  excepti, 
plerisque  suorum  ignaris  quae  causa  salutandi,  metum 
proditionis  fecere.  Turn  incubuit  hostium  acies  integris 
ordinibus,  robore  et  numero  praestantior :  Othoniani, 
quanquam  dispersi  pauciores  fessi,  proelium  tamen  acri- 


76  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  42,  43,  44. 

diter  sumpsere.  Et  per  locos  arboribus  ac  vineis  inpe- 
tos  non  una  pugnae  fades:  comminus  eminus,  catervis 
et  cuneis  concurrebant.  In  aggere  viae  conlato  gradu 
corporibus  et  umbonibus  niti,  omisso  pilorum  iactu  gladiis 
et  securibus  galeas  loricasque  perrumpere:  noscentes 
inter  se,  ceteris  conspicui  in  eventum  totius  belli  certa- 
bant. 

43  Forte  inter  Padum  viamque  patenti  campo  duae  legiones 
congressae  sunt,  pro  Vitellio  unaetvicensima,  cui  cogno- 
men   Rapaci,   vetere    gloria    insignis,    e    parte   Othonis 
prima  Adiutrix,  non  ante  in  aciem  deducta,  sed  ferox  et 
novi  decoris  avida.     Primani  stratis  unaetvicensimanorum 
principiis  aquilam  abstulere;   quo  dolore  accensa  legio  et 
inpulit  rursus  primanos,  interfecto  Orfidio  Benigno  legato, 
et  plurima  signa  vexillaque  ex  hostibus  rapuit.     A  parte 
alia  propulsa  quintanorum  impetu  tertia  decuma  legio, 
circumventi  plurium  adcursu  quartadecumani.     Et  duci- 
bus  Othonis  iam  pridem  profugis  Caecina  ac  Valens  sub- 
sidiis  suos  firmabant.     Accessit  recens  auxilium,  Varus 
Alfenus    cum   Batavis,    fusa   gladiatorum   manu,    quam 
navibus  transvectam  obpositae  cohortes  in  ipso  flumine 
trucidaverant :  ita  victores  latus  hostium  invecti. 

44  Et  media  acie  perrupta  fugere  passim  Othoniani,  Be- 
driacum    petentes.     Inmensum   id    spatium,   obstructae 
strage  corporum  viae,  quo  plus  caedis  fuit;   neque  enim 
civilibus  bellis  capti  in  praedam  vertuntur.     Suetonius 
Paulinus  et  Licinius  Proculus  diversis  itineribus  castra 
vitavere.     Vedium    Aquilam    tertiae    decumae    legionis 
legatum  irae  militum  inconsultus  pavor  obtulit.    Multo 
adhuc  die  vallum  ingressus  clamore  seditiosorum  et  fuga- 
cium  circumstrepitur ;    non  probris,  non  manibus  absti- 
nent; desertorem  proditoremque  increpant,  nullo  proprio 


CHAPS.  44,  45.]  HISTORIES  II  77 

crimine  eius,  sed  more  vulgi  suum  quisque  flagitium  aliis 
obiectantes.  Titianum  et  Celsum  nox  iuvit,  dispositis 
iam  excubiis  conpressisque  militibus,  quos  Annius  Gallus 
consilio  precibus  auctoritate  flexerat,  ne  super  cladem 
adversae  pugnae  suismet  ipsi  caedibus  saevirent:  sive 
finis  bello  venisset,  seu  resumere  arma  mallent,  unicum 
victis  in  consensu  levamentum.  Ceteris  fractus  animus: 
praetorianus  miles  non  virtute  se,  sed  proditione  victum 
fremebat:  ne  Vitellianis  quidem  incruentam  fuisse  vic- 
toriam,  pulso  equite,  rapta  legionis  aquila;  superesse  cum 
ipso  Othone  militum  quod  trans  Padum  fuerit,  venire 
Moesicas  legiones,  magnam  exercitus  partem  Bedriaci 
remansisse.  Hos  certe  nondum  victos,  et  si  ita  ferret, 
honestius  in  acie  perituros.  His  cogitationibus  truces 
aut  pavidi  extrema  desperatione  ad  iram  saepius  quam  in 
formidinem  stimulabantur. 

At  Vitellianus  exercitus  ad  quintum  a  Bedriaco  lapidem  45 
consedit,  non  ausis  ducibus  eadem  die  obpugnationem 
castrorum;  simul  voluntaria  deditio  sperabatur:  sed 
expeditis  et  tantum  ad  proelium  egressis  munimentum 
fuere  arma  et  victoria.  Postera  die  haud  ambigua  Otho- 
niani  exercitus  voluntate  et  qui  ferociores  fuerant  ad 
paenitentiam  inclinantibus  missa  legatio ;  nee  apud  duces 
Vitellianos  dubitatum,  quo  minus  pacem  concederent. 
Legati  paulisper  retenti:  ea  res  haesitationem  attulit 
ignaris  adhuc  an  impetrassent.  Mox  remissa  legatione 
patuit  vallum.  Turn  victi  victoresque  in  lacrimas  effusi, 
sortem  civilium  armorum  misera  laetitia  detestantes; 
isdem  tentoriis  alii  fratrum,  alii  propinquorum  vulnera 
fovebant:  spes  et  praemia  in  ambiguo,  certa  funera  et 
luctus,  nee  quisquam  adeo  mali  expers,  ut  non  aliquam 
mortem  maereret.  Requisitum  Orfidii  legati  corpus 


78  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  45,  46,  47. 

honore  solito  crematur;   paucos  necessarii  ipsorum  sepe- 
livere,  ceterum  vulgus  super  humum  relictum. 

46  Opperiebatur  Otho  nuntium  pugnae  nequaquam  tre- 
pidus  et  consilii  certus.    Maesta  primum  fama,  dein  pro- 
fugi  e  proelio  perditas  res  patefaciunt.    Non  expectavit 
militum  ardor  vocem  imperatoris ;    bonum  haberet  ani- 
mum  iubebant:    superesse  adhuc  novas  vires,   et  ipsos 
extrema  passuros  ausurosque.    Neque  erat  adulatio:   ire 
in  aciem,  excitare  partium  fortunam  furore  quodam  et 
instinctu   flagrabant.     Qui    procul    adstiterant,     tendere 
manus,  et  proximi  prensare  genua,  promptissimo  Plotio 
Firmo.     Is    praetorii    praefectus    identidem    orabat,    ne 
fidissimum  exercitum,  ne  optime  meritos  milites  desereret : 
maiore  animo  tolerari  adversa  quam  relinqui;    fortes  et 
strenuos  etiam  contra  fortunam  insistere  spei,  timidos  et 
ignavos    ad    desperationem    formidine   properare.     Quas 
inter  voces  ut  flexerat  vultum  aut  induraverat  Otho, 
clamor  vel  gemitus.     Nee  praetoriani  tantum,  proprius 
Othonis  miles,  sed  praemissi  e  Moesia  eandem  obstina- 
tionem  adventantis  exercitus,  legiones  Aquileiam  ingressas 
nuntiabant,  ut  nemo  dubitet  potuisse  renovari  bellum 
atrox  lugubre  incertum  victis  et  victoribus. 

47  Ipse  aversus  a  consiliis  belli  'Hunc'  inquit  'animum, 
hanc  virtutem  vestram  ultra  periculis  obicere  nimis  grande 
vitae  meae  pretium  puto.     Quanto  plus  spei  ostenditis,  si 
vivere  placeret,  tanto  pulchrior  mors  erit.     Experti   in 
vicem  sumus  ego  ac  fortuna.    Nee  tempus  conputaveritis : 
difficilius  est  temperare  felicitati,  qua  te  non  putes  diu 
usurum.    Civile  bellum  a  Vitellio  coepit,  et  ut  de  prin- 
cipatu  certaremus  armis,  initium  illinc  fuit :  ne  plus  quam 
semel  certemus,  penes  me  exemplum  erit;  hinc  Othonem 
posteritas    aestimet.     Fruetur    Vitellius    fratre    coniuge 


CHAPS.  47,  48,  49.]  HISTORIES  II  79 

liberis:  mihi  non  ultione  neque  solaciis  opus  est.  Alii 
diutius  imperium  tenuerint :  nemo  tarn  fortiter  reliquerit. 
An  ego  tantum  Romanae  pubis,  tot  egregios  exercitus 
sterni  rursus  et  rei  publicae  eripi  patiar?  Eat  hie  mecum 
animus,  tanquam  perituri  pro  me  fueritis,  sed  este  super- 
stites.  Nee  diu  moremur,  ego  incolumitatem  vestram, 
vos  constantiam  meam.  Plura  de  extremis  loqui  pars 
ignaviae  est.  Praecipuum  destinations  meae  documen- 
tum  habete,  quod  de  nemine  queror;  nam  incusare  deos 
vel  homines  eius  est  qui  vivere  velit.' 

Talia  locutus,  ut  cuique  aetas  aut  dignitas,  comiter48 
appellatos,  irent  propere  neu  remanendo  iram  victoris 
asperarent,  iuvenes  auctoritate,  senes  precibus  movebat, 
placidus  ore,  intrepidus  verbis,  intempestivas  suorum 
lacrimas  coercens.  Dari  naves  ac  vehicula  abeuntibus 
iubet ;  libellos  epistulasque  studio  erga  se  aut  in  Vitellium 
contumeliis  insignes  abolet;  pecunias  distribuit  parce 
nee  ut  periturus.  Mox  Salvium  Cocceianum,  fratris 
filium  prima  iuventa,  trepidum  et  maerentem  ultro  solatus 
est,  laudando  pietatem  eius,  castigando  formidinem:  an 
Vitellium  tarn  inmitis  animi  fore,  ut  pro  incolumi  tota 
domo  ne  hanc  quidem  sibi  gratiam  redderet?  Mereri  se 
festinato  exitu  clementiam  victoris;  non  enim  ultima 
desperatione,  sed  poscente  proelium  exercitu  remisisse 
rei  publicae  novissimum  casum.  Satis  sibi  nominis,  satis 
posteris  suis  nobilitatis  quaesitum.  Post  lulios  Claudios 
Servios  se  primum  in  familiam  novam  imperium  intulisse : 
proinde  erecto  animo  capesseret  vitam,  neu  patruum 
sibi  Othonem  fuisse  aut  oblivisceretur  umquam  aut  ni- 
mium  meminisset. 

Post  quae  dimotis  omnibus  paulum  requievit.     Atque49 
ilium   supremas   iam   curas    animo    volutantem    repens 


80  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  49,  50. 

tumultus  avertit,  nuntiata  consternatione  ac  licentia 
militum;  namque  abeuntibus  exitium  minitabantur, 
atrocissima  in  Verginium  vi,  quern  clausa  domo  obside- 
bant.  Increpitis  seditionis  auctoribus  regressus  vacavit 
abeuntium  adloquiis,  donee  omnes  inviolati  digrederentur. 
Vesperascente  die  sitim  haustu  gelidae  aquae  sedavit. 
Turn  adlatis  pugionibus  duobus,  cum  utrumque  pertemp- 
tasset,  alterum  capiti  subdidit.  Et  explorato  iam  pro- 
fectos  ami  cos,  noctem  quietam,  utque  adfirmatur,  non 
insomnem  egit:  luce  prima  in  ferrum  pectore  incubuit. 
Ad  gemitum  morientis  ingressi  liberti  servique  et  Plotius 
Firmus  praetorii  praefectus  unum  vulnus  invenere. 
Funus  maturatum;  ambitiosis  id  precibus  petierat,  ne 
amputaretur  caput  ludibrio  futurum.  Tulere  corpus 
praetoriae  cohortes  cum  laudibus  et  lacrimis,  vulnus 
manusque  eius  exosculantes.  Quidam  militum  iuxta 
rogum  interfecere  se,  non  noxa  neque  ob  metum,  sed 
aemulatione  decoris  et  caritate  principis.  Ac  postea 
promisee  Bedriaci,  Placentiae  aliisque  in  castris  celebra- 
tum  id  genus  mortis.  Othoni  sepulchrum  exstructum  est 
modicum  et  mansurum.  Hunc  vitae  finem  habuit  septimo 
et  tricensimo  aetatis  anno. 

50  Origo  illi  e  municipio  Ferentio,  pater  consularis,  avus 
praetorius;  maternum  genus  inpar  nee  tamen  indeco- 
rum. Pueritia  ac  iuvo-hta,  qualem  monstravimus.  Duo- 
bus  facinoribus,  altero  flagitiosissimo,  altero  egregio, 
tantundem  apud  posteros  meruit  bonae  famae  quantum 
malae.  Ut  conquirere  fabulosa  et  fictis  oblectare  legen- 
tium  animos  procul  gravitate  coepti  operis  crediderim,  ita 
vulgatis  traditisque  demere  fidem  non  ausim.  Die,  quo 
Bedriaci  certabatur,  avem  invisitata  specie  apud  Regium 
Lepidum  celebri  luco  consedisse  incolae  memorant,  nee 


CHAPS,  50,  51,  52,  53.]      HISTORIES  II  81 

deinde  coetu  hominum  aut  circumvolitantium  alitum  ter- 
ritam  pulsamve,  donee  Otho  se  ipse  interficeret;  turn 
ablatam  ex  oculis:  et  tempora  reputantibus  initium 
finemque  miraculi  cum  Othonis  exitu  competisse. 

In  funere  eius  novata  luctu  ac  dolore  militum  seditib,  51 
nee  erat  qui  coerceret.  Ad  Verginium  versi,  modo  ut 
reciperet  imperium,  nunc  ut  legatione  apud  Caecinam  ac 
Valentem  fungeretur,  minitantes  orabant:  Verginius 
per  aversam  domus  partem  furtim  digressus  inrumpentes 
frustratus  est.  Earum  quae  Brixelli  egerant  cohortium 
preces  Rubrius  Gallus  tulit,  et  venia  statim  impetrata, 
concedentibus  ad  victorem  per  Flavium  Sabinum  iis 
copiis  quibus  praefuerat. 

Posito  ubique  bello  magna  pars  senatus  extremum  dis-  52 
crimen  adiit,  profecta  cum  Othone  ab  urbe,  dein  Mutinae 
relicta.  Illuc  adverse  de  proelio  adlatum:  sed  milites 
ut  falsum  rumorem  aspernantes,  quod  infensum  Othoni 
senatum  arbitrabantur,  custodire  sermones,  vultum  habi- 
tumque  trahere  in  deterius ;  conviciis  postremo  ac  probris 
causam  et  initium  caedis  quaerebant,  cum  alius  insuper 
metus  senatoribus  instaret,  ne  praevalidis  iam  Vitellii 
partibus  cunctanter  excepisse  victoriam  crederentur. 
Ita  trepidi  et  utrimque  anxii  coeunt,  nemo  privatim  ex- 
pedite consilio,  inter  multos  societate  culpae  tutior. 
Onerabat  paventium  curas  ordo  Mutinensis  arma  et 
pecuniam  offerendo,  appellabatque  patres  conscriptos 
intempestivo  honore. 

Notabile  iurgium  fuit,  quo  Licinius  Caecina  Marcelluni53 
Eprium  ut  ambigua  disserentem  invasit.  Nee  ceteri  sen- 
tentiam  aperiebant:  sed  invisum  memoria  delationum 
expositumque  ad  invidiam  Marcelli  nomen  inritaverat 
Caecinam,  ut  novus  adhuc  et  in  senatum  nuper  adscitus 
o 


82  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  53,  54,  55. 

magnis  inimicitiis  claresceret.  Moderatione  meliorum 
dirempti :  et  rediere  omnes  Bononiam,  rursus  consiliaturi  ; 
simul  medio  temporis  plures  nuntii  sperabantur.  Bo- 
noniae,  divisis  per  itinera  qui  recentissimum  quemque 
percontarentur,  interrogatus  Othonis  libertus  causam 
digressus  habere  se  suprema  eius  mandata  respondit; 
ipsum  viventem  quidem  relictum,  sed  sola  posteritatis 
cura  et  abruptis  vitae  blandimentis.  Hinc  adnriratio  et 
plura  interrogandi  pudor,  atque  omnium  animi  in  Vitellium 
inclinavere. 

54  Intererat  consiliis  frater  eius  L.    Vitellius  seque  iam 
adulantibus  offerebat,  cum  repente  Coenus  libertus  Neronis 
atroci  mendacio  universes  perculit,  adfirmans  superventu 
quartae  decumae  legionis,  iunctis  a  Brixello  viribus,  caesos 
victores,  versam  partium  fortunam.     Causa  fingendi  fuit, 
ut  diplomata  Othonis,  quae  neglegebantur,  laetiore  nuntio 
revalescerent.     Et  Coenus  quidem  raptim  in  urbem  vectus 
paucos  post  dies  iussu  Vitellii  poenas  luit:    senatorum 
periculum  auctum  credentibus  Othonianis  militibus  vera 
esse  quae  adferebantur.     Intendebat  formidinem,   quod 
publici  consilii  facie  discessum  Mutina  desertaeque  partes 
forent.     Nee  ultra  in   commune   congressi   sibi   quisque 
consuluere,  donee  missae  a  Fabio  Valente  epistulae  de- 
merent   metum.     Et   mors   Othonis   quo   laudabilior,   eo 
velocius  audita. 

55  At  Romae  nihil  trepidationis ;    Ceriales  ludi  ex  more 
spectabantur.     Ut  cessisse  Othonem  et  a  Flavio  Sabino 
praefecto  urbis  quod  erat  in  urbe  militum  sacramento 
Vitellii  adactum  certi  auctores  in  theatrum  adtulerunt, 
Vitellio  plausere;    populus  cum  lauru  ac  floribus  Galbae 
imagines  circum  templa  tulit,  congestis  in  modum  tumuli 
coronis  iuxta  lacum  Curtii,  quern  locum  Galba  moriens 


CHAPS.  55,  56,  57.]  HISTORIES  II  83 

sanguine  infecerat.  In  senatu  cuncta  longis  aliorum  prin- 
cipatibus  composita  statim  decernuntur ;  additae  erga 
Germanicum  exercitum  laudes  gratesque  et  missa  legatio, 
quae  gaudio  fungeretur.  Recitatae  Fabii  Valentis  epis- 
tulae  ad  consules  scriptae  baud  immoderate:  gratior 
Caecinae  modestia  fuit,  quod  non  scripsisset. 

Ceterum  Italia  gravius  atque  atrocius  quam  bello  ad- 56 
flictabatur.  Dispersi  per  municipia  et  colonias  Vitelliani 
spoliare  rapere,  vi  et  stupris  polluere :  in  omne  fas  nefasque 
avidi  aut  venales  non  sacro,  non  profano  abstinebant.  Et 
fuere  qui  inimicos  suos  specie  militum  interficerent. 
Ipsique  milites  regionum  gnari  refertos  agros,  dites 
dominos  in  praedam  aut,  si  repugnatum  foret,  ad  exitium 
destinabant,  obnoxiis  ducibus  et  prohibere  non  ausis. 
Minus  avaritiae  in  Caecina,  plus  ambitionis:  Valens  ob 
lucra  et  quaestus  infamis  eoque  alienae  etiam  culpae  dis- 
simulator, lam  pridem  attritis  Italiae  rebus  tanta 
peditum  equitumque  vis  damnaque  et  iniuriae  aegre  tole- 
rabantur. 

Interim  Vitellius  victoriae  suae  nescius  ut  ad  integrum57 
bellum  reliquas  Germanici  exercitus  vires  trahebat.  Pauci 
veterum  militum  in  hibernis  relicti,  festinatis  per  Gallias 
dilectibus,  ut  remanentium  legionum  nomina  supplerentur. 
Cura  ripae  Hordeonio  Flacco  permissa;  ipse  e  Britannico 
exercitu  delecta  octo  milia  sibi  adiunxit.  Et  paucorum 
dierum  iter  progressus  prosperas  apud  Bedriacum  res  ac 
morte  Othonis  concidisse  bellum  accepit :  vocata  contione 
virtutem  militum  laudibus  cumulat.  Postulante  exercitu 
ut  libertum  suum  Asiaticum  equestri  dignitate  donaret, 
inhonestam  adulationem  conpescit;  dein  mobilitate  in- 
genii,  quod  palam  abnuerat,  inter  secreta  convivii  largitur, 
honoravitque  Asiaticum  anulis,  foedum  mancipium  et 
malis  artibus  ambitiosum. 


84  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  58,  59. 

58  Isdem  diebus  accessisse  partibus  utramque  Maureta- 
niam,     interfecto    procuratore     Albino,     nuntii    venere, 
Lucceius  Albinus  a  Nerone  Mauretaniae  Caesariensi  prae- 
positus,  addita  per  Galbam  Tingitanae  provinciae  admi- 
nistratione,  baud  spernendis  viribus  agebat.     Decem  no- 
vem  cohortes,  quinque  alae,  ingens  Maurorum  numerus 
aderat,  per  latrocinia  et  raptus  apta  bello  manus.     Gaeso 
Galba  in  Othonem  pronus  nee  Africa  contentus  Hispaniae 
angusto  freto  diremptae  inminebat.     Inde  Cluvio  Rufo 
metus,  et  decumam  legionem  propinquare  litori  lit  trans- 
missurus   iussit;    praemissi   centuriones,    qui    Maurorum 
animos  Vitellio  conciliarent.     Neque  arduum  fuit,  magna 
per  provincias   Germanici  exercitus  fama;    spargebatur 
insuper   spreto    procuratoris   vocabulo    Albinum   insigne 
regis  et  lubae  nomen  usurpare. 

59  Ita  mutatis  animis  Asinius  Pollio  alae  praefectus,   e 
fidissimis  Albino,  et  Festus  ac  Scipio  cohortium  praefecti 
opprimuntur:    ipse  Albinus  dum  e  Tingitana  provincia 
Caesariensem  Mauretaniam  petit,  in  adpulsu  litoris  truci- 
datus;    uxor  eius  cum  se  percussoribus  obtulisset,  simul 
interfecta  est,  nihil  eorum  quae  fierent  Vitellio  anquirente : 
brevi  auditu  quamvis  magna  transibat,  inpar  curis  gravi- 
oribus. 

Exercitum  itinere  terrestri  pergere  iubet:  ipse  Arare 
flumine  devehitur,  nullo  principal!  paratu,  sed  vetere 
egestate  conspicuus,  donee  lunius  Blaesus  Lugudunensis 
Galliae  rector,  genere  illustri,  largus  animo  et  par  opibus, 
circumdaret  principi  ministeria,  comitaretur  liberaliter,  eo 
ipso  ingratus,  quamvis  odium  Vitellius  vernilibus  blan- 
ditiis  velaret.  Praesto  fuere  Luguduni  victricium  vic- 
tarumque  partium  duces.  Valentem  et  Caecinam  pro 
contione  laudatos  curuli  suae  circumposuit.  Mox  uni- 


CHAPS.  59,  60,  61.]  HISTORIES   II  85 

versum  exercitum  occurrere  infant!  filio  iubet,  perlatum- 
que  et  paludamento  opertum  sinu  retinens  Germanicum 
appellavit  cinxitque  cunctis  f ortunae  principalis  insignibus. 
Nimius  honos  inter  secunda  rebus  adversis  in  solacium 
cessit. 

Turn  interfecti  centuriones  promptissimi  Othonianorum,  eo 
unde  praecipua  in  Vitellium  alienatio  per  Illyricos  exer- 
citus;  simul  ceterae  legiones  contactu  et  adversus  Ger- 
manicos  milites  invidia  bellura  meditabantur.  Suetonium 
Paulinum  ac  Licinium  Proculum  tristi  mora  squalidos 
tenuit,  donee  auditi  necessariis  magis  defensionibus  quam 
honestis  uterentur.  Proditionem  ultro  inputabant,  spa- 
tium  longi  ante  proelium  itineris,  fatigationem  Othoni- 
anorum, permixtum  vehiculis  agmen  ac  pleraque  fortuita 
fraudi  suae  adsignantes.  Et  Vitellius  credidit  de  perfidia 
et  fidem  absolvit.  Salvius  Titianus  Othonis  frater  nullum 
discrimen  adiit,  pietate  et  ignavia  excusatus.  Mario  Celso 
consulatus  servatur :  sed  creditum  fama  obiectumque  mox 
in  senatu  Caecilio  Simplici,  quod  eum  honorem  pecunia 
mercari,  nee  sine  exitio  Celsi,  voluisset:  restitit  Vitellius 
deditque  postea  consulatum  Simplici  innoxium  et  in- 
emptum.  Trachalum  adversus  criminantes  Galeria  uxor 
Vitellii  protexit. 

Inter  magnorum  virorum  discrimina,  pudendum  dictu,  61 
Mariccus  quidam,  e  plebe  Boiorum,  inserere  sese  fortunae 
et  provocare  arma  Romana  simulatione  numinum  ausus 
est.  lamque  adsertor  Galliarum  et  deus  (nam  id  sibi  no- 
men  indiderat)  concitis  octo  milibus  hominum  proximos 
Aeduorum  pagos  trahebat,  cum  gravissima  civitas  electa 
iuventute,  adiectis  a  Vitellio  cohortibus,  fanaticam  mul- 
titudinem  disiecit.  Captus  in  eo  proelio  Mariccus  ac 
mox  feris  obiectus  quia  non  laniabatur,  stolidum  vul- 


86  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  61,  62,  63. 

gus  inviolabilem  credebat,  donee  spectante  Vitellio  inter- 
fectus  est. 

62  Nee  ultra  in  defectores  aut  bona  cuiusquam  saevitum: 
rata  fuere  eorum  qui  acie  Othoniana  ceciderant  testa- 
menta,  aut  lex  intestatis :  prorsus,  si  luxuriae  temperaret, 
avaritiam  non  timeres.     Epularum  foeda  et  inexplebilis 
libido :  ex  urbe  atque  Italia  irritamenta  gulae  gestabantur, 
strepentibus  ab  utroque  mari  itineribus;    exhausti  con- 
viviorum  apparatibus  principes  civitatum;    vastabantur 
ipsae  civitates;    degenerabat  a  labore  ac  virtute  miles 
adsuetudine  voluptatum  et  contemptu  ducis.      Praemisit 
in  urbem  edictum,  quo  vocabulum  Augusti  differret,  Cae- 
saris  non  reciperet,   cum  de  potestate  nihil  detraheret. 
Pulsi    Italia   mathematici;     cautum    severe,    ne    equites 
Romani  ludo  et  harena  polluerentur.     Priores  id  principes 
pecunia  et  saepius  vi  perpulerant,  ac  pleraque  municipia 
et  coloniae  aemulabantur  corruptissimum  quemque  adu- 
lescentium  pretio  inlicere. 

63  Sed    Vitellius  adventu  fratris  et  inrepentibus  domina- 
tionis  magistris  superbiof  et  atrocior  occidi  Dolabellam 
iussit,  quern  in  coloniam  Aquinatem  sepositum  ab  Othone 
rettulimus.     Dolabella     audita     morte     Othonis     urbem 
introierat:   id  ei  Plancius  Varus  praetura  functus,  ex  in- 
timis  Dolabellae  amicis,  apud  Flavium  Sabinum  praefec- 
tum  urbis  obiecit,  tanquam  rupta  custodia  ducem  se  vic- 
tis  partibus  ostentasset;    addidit  temptatam  cohortem, 
quae  Ostiae  ageret;    nee  ullis  tantorum  criminum  proba- 
tionibus  in  paenitentiam  versus  seram  veniam  post  scelus 
quaerebat.     Cunctantem  super  tanta  re  Flavium  Sabinum 
Triaria  L.  Vitellii  uxor,  ultra  feminam  ferox,  terruit  ne 
periculo  principis  famam  clementiae  adfectaret.     Sabinus 
suopte  ingenio  mitis,  ubi  formido  incessisset,  f acilis  mutatu 


CHAPS.  63,  64,  65.]  HISTORIES  II  87 

et  in  alieno  discrimine  sibi  pavens,  ne  adlevasse  videretur, 
inpulit  ruentem. 

Igitur  Vitellius  metu  et  odio,  quod  Petroniam  uxoreme4 
eius  mox  Dolabella  in  matrimonium  accepisset,  vocatum 
per  epistulas  vitata  Flaminiae  viae  celebritate  devertere 
Interamnam  atque  ibi  interfici  iussit.  Longum  inter- 
fectori  visum:  in  itinere  ac  taberna  proiectum  humi 
iugulavit,  magna  cum  invidia  novi  principatus,  cuius  hoc 
primum  specimen  noscebatur.  Et  Triariae  licentiam 
modestum  e  proximo  exemplum  onerabat,  Galeria  im- 
peratoris  uxor  non  inmixta  tristibus;  et  pari  probitate 
mater  Vitelliorum  Sextilia,  antiqui  moris:  dixisse  quin 
etiam  ad  primas  filii  sui  epistulas  ferebatur,  non  Germani- 
cum  a  se,  sed  Vitellium  genitum.  Nee  ullis  postea  for- 
tunae  inlecebris  aut  ambitu  civitatis  in  gaudium  evicta 
domus  suae  tantum  adversa  sensit. 

Digressum  a  Luguduno  Vitellium  Cluvius  Rufus  adse-65 
quitur  omissa  Hispania,  laetitiam  et  gratulationem  vultu 
ferens,  animo  anxius  et  petitum  se  criminationibus  gnarus- 
Hilarus  Caesaris  libertus  detulerat,  tanquam  audito  Vitellii 
et  Othonis  principatu  propriam  ipse  potentiam  et  pos- 
sessionem  Hispaniarum  temptasset,  eoque  diplomatibus 
nullum  principem  praescripsisset ;  et  interpretabatur 
quaedam  ex  orationibus  eius  contumeliosa  in  Vitellium  et 
pro  se  ipso  popularia.  Auctoritas  Cluvii  praevaluit,  ut 
puniri  ultro  libertum  suum  Vitellius  iuberet.  Cluvius 
comitatui  principis  adiectus,  non  adempta  Hispania,  quam 
rexit  absens  exemplo  L.  Arruntii.  Sed  Arruntium  Tiberius 
Caesar  ob  metum,  Vitellius  Cluvium  nulla  formidine 
retinebat.  Non  idem  Trebellio  Maximo  honos:  profu- 
gerat  Britannia  ob  iracundiam  militum;  missus  est  in 
locum  eius  Vettius  Bolanus  e  praesentibus. 


88  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  66,  67. 

66  Angebat   Vitellium  victarum  legionum  haudquaquam 
fractus  animus.     Sparsae  per  Italiam  et  victoribus  permix- 
tae  hostilia  loquebantur,  praecipua  quartadecumanorum 
ferocia,    qui    se   victos    abnuebant:    quippe   Bedriacensi 
acie  vexillariis  tantum  pulsis  vires  legionis  non  adfuisse. 
Remitti  eos  in  Britanniam,  unde  a  Nerone  exciti  erant, 
placuit   atque  interim  Batavorum  cohortes  una  tendere 
ob  veterem  adversus  quartadecumanos  discordiam.     Nee 
diu  in  tantis  armatorum  odiis  quies  fuit :    Augustae  Tau- 
rinorum,  dum  opificem  quendam  Batavus  ut  fraudatorem 
insectatur,  legionarius    ut    hospitem    tuetur,  sui    cuique 
commilitones  adgregati  a  conviciis  ad  caedem  transiere. 
Et  proelium  atrox  arsisset,  ni  duae  praetoriae  cohortes 
causam    quartadecumanorum    secutae    his    fiduciam    et 
metum  Batavis  fecissent :    quos  Vitellius  agmini  suo  iungi 
ut  fidos,  legionem  Grais  Alpibus  traductam  eo  flexu  itin- 
eris  ire  iubet,  quo  Viennam  vitarent;  namque  et   Vien- 
nenses    timebantur.      Nocte,    qua    proficiscebatur    legio, 
relictis  passim  ignibus  pars  Taurinae  coloniae  ambusta, 
quod  damnum,  ut  pleraque  belli  mala,  maioribus  aliarum 
urbium    cladibus    oblitteratum.     Quartadecumani    post- 
quam  Alpibus  degressi  sunt,  seditiosissimus  quisque  signa 
Viennam  ferebant :   consensu  meliorum  conpressi  et  legio 
in  Britanniam  transvecta. 

67  Proximus  Vitellio  e  praetoriis  cohortibus  metus  erat. 
Separati  primum,  deinde  addito  honestae  missionis  leni- 
mento,  arma  ad  tribunes  suos  deferebant,  donee  motum 
a  Vespasiano  bellum  crebresceret :   turn  resumpta  militia 
robur   Flavianarum   partium   fuere.     Prima   classicorum 
legio  in  Hispaniam  missa,  ut  pace  et  otio  mitesceret,  un- 
decuma  ac  septima  suis  hibernis  redditae,  tertiadecumani 
struere    amphitheatra    iussi;     nam    Caecina    Cremonae, 


CHAPS.  67, 68,  69.]  HISTORIES  II  89 

Valens  Bononiae  spectaculum  gladiatorum  edere  para- 
bant,  numquam  ita  ad  curas  intento  Vitellio,  ut  volup- 
tatum  oblivisceretur. 

Et  victas  quidem  partes  modeste  distraxerat:  apud68 
victores  orta  seditio,  ludicro  initio,  ni  numerus  caesorum 
invidiam  Vitellio  auxisset.  Discubuerat  Vitellius  Ticini 
adhibito  ad  epulas  Verginio.  Legati  tribunique  ex  mori- 
bus  imperatorum  severitatem  aemulantur  vel  tempestivis 
conviviis  gaudent;  perinde  miles  intentus  aut  licenter 
agit.  Apud  Vitellium  omnia  indisposita  temulenta,  per- 
vigiliis  ac  bacchanalibus  quam  disciplinae  et  castris  pro- 
piora.  Igitur  duobus  militibus,  altero  legionis  quintae, 
altero  e  Gallis  auxiliaribus,  per  lasciviam  ad  certamen  luc- 
tandi  accensis,  postquam  legionarius  prociderat,  insultante 
Gallo  et  iis  qui  ad  spectandum  convenerant  in  studia  di- 
ductis,  erupere  legionarii  in  perniciem  auxiliorum  ac  duae 
cohortes  interfectae.  Remedium  tumultus  fuit  alius 
tumultus.  Pulvis  procul  et  arma  adspiciebantur :  con- 
clamatum  repente  quartam  decumam  legionem  verso 
itinere  ad  proelium  venire;  sed  erant  agminis  coactores: 
agniti  dempsere  sollicitudinem.  Interim  Verginii  servus 
forte  obvius  ut  percussor  Vitellii  insimulatur:  et  ruebat 
ad  convivium  miles,  mortem  Verginii  exposcens.  Ne 
Vitellius  quidem,  quanquam  ad  omnes  suspiciones  pavidus, 
de  innocentia  eius  dubitavit :  aegre  tamen  cohibiti  qui 
exitium  consularis  et  quondam  ducis  sui  flagitabant.  Nee 
quemquam  saepius  quam  Verginium  omnis  seditio  in- 
festavit :  manebat  admiratio  viri  et  fama,  sed  oderant  ut 
fastiditi. 

Postero  die  Vitellius  senatus  legatione,  quam  ibi  op- 69 
periri  iusserat,  audita  transgressus  in  castra  ultro  pietatem 
militum   conlaudavit,    frementibus   auxiliis  tantum  im- 


90  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  69,  70. 

punitatis  atque  adrogantiae  legionariis  accessisse.  Ba- 
tavorum  cohortes,  ne  quid  truculentius  auderent,  in  Ger- 
maniam  remissae,  principium  interne  simul  externoque 
bello  parantibus  fatis.  Reddita  civitatibus  Gallorum 
auxilia,  ingens  numerus  et  prima  statim  defectione  inter 
mania  belli  adsumptus.  Ceterum  ut  largitionibus  ad- 
fectae  iam  iraperii  opes  sufficerent,  amputari  legionum 
auxiliorumque  numeros  iubet  vetitis  supplements;  et 
promiscae  missiones  offerebantur.  Exitiabile  id  rei  pub- 
licae,  ingratum  militi,  cui  eadem  munia  inter  paucos 
periculaque  ac  labor  crebrius  redibant:  et  vires  luxu 
corrumpebantur,  contra  veterem  disciplinam  et  instituta 
maiorum,  apud  quos  virtute  quam  pecunia  res  Romana 
melius  stetit. 

70  Inde  Vitellius  Cremonam  flexit  et  spectato  munere 
Caecinae  insistere  Bedriacensibus  campis  ac  vestigia  re- 
centis  victoriae  lustrare  oculis  concupivit.  Foedum  atque 
atrox  spectaculum  intra  quadragensimum  pugnae  diem: 
lacera  corpora,  trunci  artus,  putres  virorum  equorumque 
formae,  infecta  tabo  humus,  protritis  arboribus  ac  frugibus 
dira  vastitas.  Nee  minus  inhumana  pars  viae,  quam 
Cremonenses  lauru  rosaque  constraverant,  extructis  al- 
taribus  caesisque  victimis  regium  in  morem ;  quae  laeta  in 
praesens  mox  perniciem  ipsis  fecere.  Aderant  Valens  et 
Caecina,  monstrabantque  pugnae  locos:  hinc  inrupisse 
legionum  agmen,  hinc  equites  coortos,  inde  circumfusas 
auxiliorum  manus :  iam  tribuni  praefectique  sua  quisque 
facta  extollentes  falsa  vera  aut  maiora  vero  miscebant. 
Vulgus  quoque  militum  clamore  et  gaudio  deflectere  via, 
spatia  certaminum  recognoscere,  aggerem  armorum, 
strues  corporum  intueri  mirari;  et  erant  quos  varia  sors 
rerum  lacrimaeque  et  misericordia  subiret.  At  non 


CHAPS.  70,  71,  72,  73.]      HISTORIES  II  91 

Vitellius  flexit  oculos  nee  tot  milia  insepultorum  civium 
exhorruit :  laetus  ultro  et  tarn  propinquae  sortis  ignarus 
instaurabat  sacrum  dis  loci. 

Exin  Bononiae  a  Fabio  Valente  gladiatorum  spectacu-7i 
lum  editur,  advecto  ex  urbe  cultu.  Quantoque  magis  pro- 
pinquabat,  tanto  corruptius  iter  inmixtis  histrionibus  et 
spadonum  gregibus  et  cetero  Neronianae  aulae  ingenio; 
namque  et  Neronem  ipsum  Vitellius  admiratione  cele- 
brabat,  sectari  cantantem  solitus,  non  necessitate,  qua 
honestissimus  quisque,  sed  luxu  et  saginae  mancipatus 
emptusque.  Ut  Valenti  et  Caecinae  vacuos  honoris 
menses  aperiret,  coartati  aliorum  consulatus,  dissimulatus 
Marti  Maori  tanquam  Othonianarum  partium  ducis;  et 
Valerium  Marinum  destinatum  a  Galba  consulem  distulit, 
nulla  offensa,  sed  mitem  et  iniuriam  segniter  laturum. 
Pedanius  Costa  omittitur,  ingratus  principi  ut  adversus 
Neronem  ausus  et  Verginii  extimulator,  sed  alias  protulit 
causas;  actaeque  insuper  Vitellio  gratiae  consuetudine 
servitii. 

Non  ultra  paucos  dies  quanquam  acribus  initiis  coeptum  72 
mendacium  valuit.  Extiterat  quidam  Scribonianum  se 
Camerinum  ferens,  Neronianorum  temporum  metu  in  His- 
tria  occultatum,  quod  illic  clientelae  et  agri  veterum 
Crassorum  ac  nominis  favor  manebat.  Igitur  deterrimo 
quoque  in  argumentum  fabulae  adsumpto  vulgus  credu- 
lum  et  quidam  militum,  errore  veri  seu  turbarum  studio, 
certatim  adgregabantur,  cum  pertractus  ad  Vitellium  in- 
terrogatusque,  quisnam  mortalium  esset.  Postquam  nulla 
dictis  fides  et  a  domino  noscebatur  condicione  fugitivus, 
nomine  Geta,  sumptum  de  eo  supplicium  in  servilem 
modum. 

Vix  credibile  memoratu  est,  quantum  superbiae  socor-  73 


92  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  73,  74,  75. 

diaeque  Vitellio  adoleverit,  postquam  speculatores  e  Syria 
ludaeaque  adactum  in  verba  eius  Orientem  nuntiavere. 
Nam  etsi  vagis  adhuc  et  incertis  auctoribus,  erat  tamen'in 
ore  famaque  Vespasianus  ac  plerumque  ad  nomen  eius 
Vitellius  excitabatur:  turn  ipse  exercitusque,  ut  nullo 
aemulo,  saevitia  libidine  raptu  in  externos  mores  pro- 
ruperant. 

74  At  Vespasianus  bellum  armaque  et  procul  vel  iuxta  sitas 
vires  circumspectabat.     Miles  ipsi  adeo  paratus,  ut  prae- 
euntem  sacramentum  et  fausta  Vitellio  omnia  precantem 
per  silentium  audierint;   Muciani  animus  nee  Vespasiano 
alienus  et   in  Titum  pronior;    praefectus   Aegypti   Ti. 
Alexander  consilia  sociaverat;   tertiam  legionem,  quod  e 
Syria  in  Moesiam  transisset,  suam  numerabat;    ceterae 
Illyrici  legiones  secuturae  sperabantur;    namque  omnis 
exercitus  flammaverat  adrogantia  venientium  a  Vitellio 
militum,  quod  truces  corpore,  horridi  sermone  ceteros  ut 
inpares  inridebant.     Sed  in  tanta  mole  belli  plerumque 
cunctatio;    et  Vespasianus  modo  in  spem  erectus,  ali- 
quando    adversa   reputabat:     quis   ille    dies   foret,    quo 
sexaginta  aetatis  annos  et  duos  filios  iuvenes  bello  per- 
mitteret?     Esse   privatis   cogitationibus   progressum,   et 
prout  velint,  plus  minusve  sumi  ex  fortuna:    imperium 
cupientibus  nihil  medium  inter  summa  aut  praecipitia. 

75  Versabatur    ante    oculos    Germanici    exercitus    robur, 
notum  viro  militari :   suas  legiones  civili  bello  inexpertas, 
Vitellii  victrices,  et  apud  victos  plus  querimoniarum  quam 
virium.     Fluxam  per  discordias  militum  fidem  et  pericu- 
lum  ex  singulis :  quid  enim  profuturas  cohortes  alasque,  si 
unus  alterve  praesenti  facinore  paratum  ex  diverse  prae- 
mium  petat  ?    Sic  Scribonianum  sub  Claudio  interfectum, 
sic  percussorem  eius  Volaginium  e  gregario  ad  summa 


CHAPS.  75,  76.]  HISTORIES  II  93 

militiae  provectum:    facilius  universes  inpelli  quam  sin- 
gulos  vitari. 

His  pavoribus  nutantem  et  alii  legati  amicique  firma-76 
bant  et  Mucianus,  post  multos  secretosque  sermones  iam 
et  coram  ita  locutus :  '  Omnes,  qui  magnarum  rerum  con- 
silia  suscipiunt,  aestimare  debent,  an  quod  incohatur  rei 
publicae  utile,  ipsis  gloriosum,  an  promptum  effectu  aut 
certe  non  arduum  sit ;  simul  ipse  qui  suadet  considerandus 
est,  adiciatne  consilio  periculum  suum,  et  si  fortuna  coeptis 
adfuerit,  cui  summum  decus  adquiratur.  Ego  te,  Ves- 
pasiane,  ad  imperium  voco,  quam  salutare  rei  publicae, 
quam  tibi  magnificum,  iuxta  deos  in  tua  manu  positum  est. 
Nee  speciem  adulantis  expaveris:  a  contumelia  quam  a 
laude  propius  fuerit  post  Vitellium  eligi.  Non  adversus 
divi  Augusti  acerrimam  mentem  nee  adversus  cautissimam 
Tiberii  senectutem,  ne  contra  Gai  quidem  aut  Claudii  vel 
Neronis  fundatam  longo  imperio  domum  exsurgimus; 
cessisti  etiam  Galbae  imaginibus:  torpere  ultra  et  pollu- 
endam  perdendamque  rem  publicam  relinquere  sopor  et 
ignavia  videretur,  etiam  si  tibi  quam  inhonesta,  tarn  tuta 
servitus  esset.  Abiit  iam  et  transvectum  est  tempus, 
quo  posses  videri  concupisse:  confugiendum  est  ad  im- 
perium. An  excidit  trucidatus  Corbulo?  splendidior 
origine  quam  nos  sumus,  fateor,  sed  et  Nero  nobilitate 
natalium  Vitellium  anteibat.  Satis  clarus  est  apud 
timentem  quisquis  timetur.  Et  posse  ab  exercitu  prin- 
cipem  fieri  sibi  ipse  Vitellius  documento,  nullis  stipendiis, 
nulla  militari  fama,  Galbae  odio  provectus.  Ne  Othonem 
quidem  ducis  arte  aut  exercitus  vi,  sed  praepropera  ipsius 
desperatione  victum,  iam  desiderabilem  et  magnum  prin- 
cipem  fecit,  cum  interim  spargit  legiones,  exarmat  cohortes, 
nova  cotidie  bello  semina  ministrat.  Si  quid  ardoris  ac 


94  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  76,  77,  78. 

ferociae  miles  habuit,  popinis  et  comissationibus  et  prin- 
cipis  imitatione  deteritur :  tibi  e  ludaea  et  Syria  et  Ae- 
gypto  novem  legiones  integrae,  nulla  acie  exhaustae,  non 
discordia  corruptae,  sed  firmatus  usu  miles  et  belli  domitor 
externi;  classium  alarum  cohortium  robora  et  fidissimi 
reges  et  tua  ante  omnis  experiential 

77  '  Nobis  nihil  ultra  adrogabo,  quam  ne  post  Valentem 
et  Caecinam  numeremur:    ne  tamen  Mucianum  socium 
spreveris,  quia  aemulum  non  experiris.     Me  Vitellio  ante- 
pono,    te    mihi.     Tuae    domui    triumphale    nomen,    duo 
iuvenes,  capax  iam  imperil  alter  et  primis  militiae  annis 
apud   Germanicos  quoque  exercitus   clarus.     Absurdum 
fuerit  non  cedere  imperio  ei,   cuius  filium  adoptaturus 
essem,  si  ipse  imperarem.     Ceterum  inter  nos  non  idem 
prosperarum   adversarumque  rerum  ordo   erit:    nam  si 
vincimus,  honorem,  quern  dederis,  habebo :   discrimen  ac 
pericula  ex  aequo  patiemur.     Immo,  ut  melius  est,  tu 
tuos  exercitus  rege,  mihi  bellum  et  proeliorum  incerta 
trade.     Acriore  hodie  disciplina  victi  quam  victores  agunt. 
Hos  ira  odium  ultionis  cupiditas  ad  virtutem  accendit: 
illi  per  fastidium  et  contumacia  hebescunt.     Aperiet  et 
recludet  contecta  et  tumescentia  victricium  partium  vul- 
nera  bellum  ipsum;  nee  mihi  maior  in  tua  vigilantia  par- 
simonia  sapientia  fiducia  est  quam  in  Vitellii  torpore  in- 
scitia  saevitia.     Sed  meliorem  in  bello  causam  quam  in 
pace  habemus;  nam  qui  deliberant,  desciverunt.' 

78  Post  Muciani  orationem  ceteri  audentius  circumsistere 
hortari,  responsa  vatum  et  siderum  motus  referre.     Nee 
erat  intactus  tali  superstitione,  ut  qui  mox  rerum  dominus 
Seleucum  quendam  mathematicum  rectorem  et  praescium 
palam    habuerit.     Recursabant    animo    vetera    omina: 
cupressus  arbor  in  agris  eius  conspicua  altitudine  repente 


CHAPS.  78,  79,  80.]  HISTORIES   II  95 

prociderat  ac  postera  die  eodem  vestigio  resurgens  procera 
et  laetior  virebat.  Grande  id  prosperumque  consensu 
haruspicum  et  summa  claritudo  iuveni  admodum  Ves- 
pasiano  promissa,  sed  primo  triumphalia  et  consulatus  et 
ludaicae  victoriae  decus  inplesse  fidem  ominis  videbantur : 
ut  haec  adeptus  est,  portendi  sibi  imperium  credebat. 
Est  ludaeam  inter  Syriamque  Carmelus:  ita  vocant 
montem  deumque.  Nee  simulacrum  deo  aut  templum 
(sic  tradidere  maiores) ;  ara  tantum  et  reverentia.  Illic 
sacrificanti  Vespasiano,  cum  spes  occultas  versaret  animo, 
Basilides  sacerdos  inspectis  identidem  extis  'Quidquid 
est'  inquit, '  Vespasiane,  quod  paras,  seu  domum  extruere 
seu  prolatare  agros  sive  ampliare  servitia,  datur  tibi  magna 
sedes,  ingentes  termini,  multum  hominum.'  Has  am- 
bages et  statim  exceperat  fama  et  tune  aperiebat;  nee 
quicquam  magis  in  ore  vulgi.  Crebriores  apud  ipsum 
sermones,  quanto  sperantibus  plura  dicuntur.  Haud 
dubia  destinatione  discessere  Mucianus  Antiochiam,  Ves- 
pasianus  Caesaream :  ilia  Syriae,  hoc  ludaeae  caput  est. 

Initium  ferendi  ad  Vespasianum  imperii  Alexandriae  79 
coeptum,  festinante  Tiberio  Alexandra,  qui  kalendis  luliis 
sacramento  eius  legiones  adegit.  Isque  primus  principa- 
tus  dies  in  posterum  celebratus,  quamvis  ludaicus  exer- 
citus  quinto  nonas  lulias  apud  ipsum  iurasset  eo  ardore  ut 
ne  Titus  quidem  films  expectaretur,  Syria  remeans  et 
consiliorum  inter  Mucianum  ac  patrem  nuntius.  Cuncta 
impetu  militum  acta  non  parata  contione,  non  coniunctis 
legionibus. 

Dum  quaeritur  tempus  locus  quodque  in  re  tali  difficil-  8O 
limum  est,  prima  vox,  dum  animo  spes  timor,  ratio  casus 
obversantur,  egressum  cubiculo  Vespasianum  pauci  milites, 
solito  adsistentes  ordine  ut  legatum  salutaturi,  impera- 


96  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  80,  81. 

torem  salutavere :  turn  ceteri  adcurrere,  Caesarem  et 
Augustum  et  omnia  principatus  vocabula  cumulare.  Mens 
a  metu  ad  fortunam  transierat:  in  ipso  nihil  tumidum 
adrogans  aut  in  rebus  novis  novum  fuit.  Ut  primum 
tantae  altitudinis  obfusam  oculis  caliginem  disiecit,  mili- 
tariter  locutus  laeta  omnia  et  affluentia  excepit;  namque 
id  ipsum  opperiens  Mucianus  alacrem  militera  in  verba 
Vespasiani  adegit.  Turn  Antiochensium  theatrum  in- 
gressus,  ubi  illis  consultare  mos  est,  concurrentes  et  in 
adulationem  effusos  adloquitur,  satis  decorus  etiam 
Graeca  facundia,  omniumque  quae  diceret  atque  ageret 
arte  quadam  ostentator.  Nihil  aeque  provinciam  exer- 
citumque  accendit  quam  quod  adseverabat  Mucianus,  sta- 
tuisse  Vitellium,  ut  Germanicas  legiones  in  Syriam  ad 
militiam  opulentam  quietamque  transferret,  contra  Syri- 
acis  legionibus  Germanica  hiberna  caelo  ac  laboribus  dura 
mutarentur.  Quippe  et  provinciales  sueto  militum  con- 
tubernio  gaudebant,  plerique  necessitudinibus  et  propin- 
quitatibus  mixti,  et  militibus  vetustate  stipendiorum  nota 
et  familiaria  castra  in  modum  penatium  diligebantur. 
81  Ante  idus  lulias  Syria  omnis  in  eodem  sacramento  fuit. 
Accessere  cum  regno  Sohaemus  baud  spernendis  viribus, 
Antiochus  vetustis  opibus  ingens  et  servientium  regum  di- 
tissimus.  Mox  per  occultos  suorum  nuntios  excitus  ab 
urbe  Agrippa,  ignaro  adhuc  Vitellio,  celeri  navigatione 
properaverat.  Nee  minore  animo  regina  Berenice  partes 
iuvabat,  florens  aetate  formaque  et  seni  quoque  Vespasiano 
magnificentia  munerum  grata.  Quidquid  provinciarum 
adluitur  mari  Asia  atque  Achaia  tenus,  quantumque 
introrsus  in  Pontum  et  Armenios  patescit,  iuravere;  sed 
inermes  legati  regebant,  nondum  additis  Cappadociae 
legionibus.  Consilium  de  summa  rerum  Beryti  habitum. 


CHAPS.  81,  82,  83.]  HISTORIES  II  97 

Illuc  Mucianus  cum  legatis  tribunisque  et  splendidissimo 
quoque  centurionum  ac  militum  venit,  et  e  ludaico  exer- 
citu  lecta  decora :  tantum  simul  peditum  equitumque  et 
aemulantium  inter  se  regum  paratus  speciem  fortunae 
principalis  effecerant. 

Prima  belli  cura  agere  dilectus,  revocare  veteranos;82 
destinantur  validae  civitates  exercendis  armorum  offi- 
cinis,  apud  Antiochenses  aurum  argentumque  signatur, 
eaque  cuncta  per  idoneos  ministros  suis  quidque  locis 
festinabantur.  Ipse  Vespasianus  adire  hortari  bonos 
laude,  segnes  exemplo  incitare  saepius  quam  coercere, 
vitia  magis  amicorum  quam  virtutes  dissimulans.  Multos 
praefecturis  et  procurationibus,  plerosque  senatorii  ordinis 
honore  percoluit,  egregios  viros  et  mox  summa  adeptos; 
quibusdam  fortuna  pro  virtutibus  fuit.  Donativum  militi 
neque  Mucianus  prima  contione  nisi  modice  ostenderat,  ne 
Vespasianus  quidem  plus  civili  bello  obtulit  quam  alii  in 
pace,  egregie  firmus  adversus  militarem  largitionem  eoque 
exercitu  meliore.  Missi  ad  Parthum  Armeniumque  legati, 
provisumque,  ne  versis  ad  civile  bellum  legionibus  terga 
nudarentur.  Titum  instare  ludaeae,  Vespasianum  ob- 
tinere  claustra  Aegypti  placuit:  sufficere  videbantur 
adversus  Vitellium  pars  copiarum  et  dux  Mucianus  et  Ves- 
pasiani  nomen  ac  nihil  arduum  fatis.  Ad  omnes  exer- 
citus  legatosque  scriptae  epistulae  praeceptumque,  ut 
praetorianos  Vitellio  infensos  reciperandae  militiae  prae- 
mio  invitarent. 

Mucianus  cum  expedita  manu,  socium  magis  imperiiss 
quam  ministrum  agens,  non  lento  itinere,  ne  cunctari 
videretur,  neque  tamen  properans,  gliscere  famam  ipso 
spatio  sinebat,  gnarus  modicas  vires  sibi  et  maiora  credi 
de  absentibus ;   sed  legio  sexta  et  tredecim  vexillariorum 


98  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  83,  84,  85. 

milia  ingenti  agmine  sequebantur.  Classem  e  Ponto 
Byzantium  adigi  iusserat,  ambiguus  consilii,  num  omissa 
Moesia  Dyrrachium  pedite  atque  equite,  simul  longis 
navibus  versum  in  Italiam  mare  clauderet,  tuta  pone 
tergum  Achaia  Asiaque,  quas  inermes  exponi  Vitellio, 
ni  praesidiis  firmarentur ;  atque  ipsum  Vitellium  in  incerto 
fore,  quam  partem  Italiae  protegeret,  si  Brundisium  Ta- 
rentumque  et  Calabriae  Lucaniaeque  litora  infestis  clas- 
sibus  peterentur. 

84  Igitur  navium  militum  armorum  paratu  strepere  pro- 
vinciae,  sed  nihil  aeque  fatigabat  quam  pecuniarum  con- 
quisitio :  eos  esse  belli  civilis  nervos  dictitansMucianus  non 
ius  aut  verum  in  cognitionibus,  sed  solam  magnitudinem 
opum  spectabat.     Passim  delationes,  et  locupletissimus 
quisque  in  praedam  correpti.     Quae  gravia  atque  into- 
leranda,  sed  necessitate  armorum  excusata  etiam  in  pace 
mansere,  ipso  Vespasiano  inter  initia  imperii  ad  optinendas 
iniquitates  baud  perinde  obstinante,   donee  indulgentia 
fortunae  et  pravis  magistris  didicit  aususque  est.     Pro- 
priis  quoque  opibus  Mucianus  bellum  iuvit,  largus  pri- 
vatim,  quo  avidius  de  re  publica  sumeret.    Ceteri  con- 
ferendarum    pecuniarum    exemplum    secuti,    rarissimus 
quisque  eandem  in  reciperando  licentiam  habuerunt. 

85  Adcelerata  interim  Vespasiani  coepta  Illyrici  exercitus 
studio    transgressi    in    partes.     Tertia    legio    exemplum 
ceteris  Moesiae  legionibus  praebuit :  octava  erat  ac  septima 
Claudiana,  inbutae  favore  Othonis,  quamvis  proelio  non 
interfuissent.     Aquileiam  progressae,  proturbatis  qui  de 
Othone  nuntiabant  laceratisque  vexillis  nomen   Vitellii 
praeferentibus,  rapta  postremo  pecunia  et  inter  se  divisa, 
hostiliter  egerant.     Unde  metus  et  ex  metu  consilium, 
posse  inputari  Vespasiano  quae  apud  Vitellium  excusanda 


CHAPS.  85, 86.]  HISTORIES  II  99 

erant.  Ita  tres  Moesicae  legiones  per  epistulas  adlicie- 
bant  Pannonicum  exercitum  aut  abnuenti  vim  parabant. 
In  eo  motu  Aponius  Saturninus  Moesiae  rector  pessimum 
facinus  audet,  misso  centurione  ad  interficiendum  Tettium 
lulianum  septimae  legionis  legatum  ob  simultates,  quibus 
causam  partium  praetendebat.  lulianus  comperto  dis- 
crimine  et  gnaris  locorum  adscitis  per  avia  Moesiae  ultra 
montem  Haemum  profugit;  nee  deinde  civili  bello  inter- 
fuit,  per  varias  moras  susceptum  ad  Vespasianum  iter 
trahens  et  ex  nuntiis  cunctabundus  aut  properans. 

At  in  Pannonia  tertia  decuma  legio  ac  septima  Galbiana,  86 
dolorem  iramque  Bedriacensis  pugnae  retinentes,  baud 
cunctanter  Vespasiano  accessere,  vi  praecipua  Primi 
Antonii.  Is  legibus  nocens  et  tempore  Neronis  falsi  dam- 
natus  inter  alia  belli  mala  senatorium  ordinem  recipera- 
verat.  Praepositus  a  Galba  septumae  legioni  scriptitasse 
Othoni  credebatur,  ducem  se  partibus  offerens;  a  quo 
neglectus  in  nullo  Othoniani  belli  usu  fuit.  Labantibus 
Vitellii  rebus  Vespasianum  secutus  grande  momentum 
addidit,  strenuus  manu,  sermone  promptus,  serendae  in 
alios  invidiae  artifex,  discordiis  et  seditionibus  potens, 
raptor  largitor,  pace  pessimus,  bello  non  spernendus. 
luncti  inde  Moesici  ac  Pannonici  exercitus  Delmaticum 
militem  traxere,  quanquam  consularibus  legatis  nihil 
turbantibus.  Tampius  Flavianus  Pannoniam,  Pompeius 
Silvanus  Delmatiam  tenebant,  divites  senes;  sed  procura- 
tor aderat  Cornelius  Fuscus,  vigens  aetate,  claris  natalibus. 
Prima  iuventa  quaestus  cupidine  senatorium  ordinem 
exuerat ;  idem  pro  Galba  dux  coloniae  suae,  eaque  opera 
procurationem  adeptus,  susceptis  Vespasiani  partibus 
acerrimam  bello  facem  praetulit :  non  tam  praemiis  peri- 
culorum  quam  ipsis  periculis  laetus  pro  certis  et  olim  par- 


100  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  86>  8?>  88_ 

tis  nova  ambigua  ancipitia  malebat.  Igitur  movere  et 
quatere,  quidquid  usquam  aegrum  foret,  adgrediuntur. 
Scriptae  in  Britanniam  ad  quartadecumanos,  in  Hispaniam 
ad  primanos  epistulae,  quod  utraque  legio  pro  Othone, 
adversa  Vitellio  fuerat;  sparguntur  per  Gallias  litterae; 
momentoque  temporis  flagrabat  ingens  bellum,  Illyricis 
exercitibus  palam  desciscentibus,  ceteris  fortunam  secu- 
turis. 

87  Dum   haec   per  provincias   a   Vespasiano   ducibusque 
partium  geruntur,  Vitellius  contemptior  in  dies  segniorque, 
ad  omnis  municipiorum  villarumque  amoenitates  resis- 
tens,  gravi  urbem  agmine  petebat.     Sexaginta  milia  ar- 
matorum  sequebantur,  licentia  corrupta;    calonum  nu- 
merus  amplior,  procacissimis  etiam  inter  servos  lixarum 
ingeniis;   tot  legatorum  amicorumque  comitatus  inhabilis 
ad  parendum,  etiam  si  summa  modestia  regetur.     Onera- 
bant  multitudinem  obvii  ex  urbe  senatores  equitesque, 
quidam  metu,  multi  per  adulationem,  ceteri  ac  paulatim 
omnes,  ne  aliis  proficiscentibus  ipsi  remanerent.     Adgre- 
gabantur  e  plebe  flagitiosa  per  obsequia  Vitellio  cogniti, 
scurrae  histriones  aurigae,   quibus  ille  amicitiarum  de- 
honestamentis  mire  gaudebat.    Nee  coloniae  modo  aut 
municipia  congestu  copiarum,  sed  ipsi  cultores  arvaque 
maturis  iam  frugibus  ut  hostile  solum  vastabantur. 

88  Multae  et  atroces  inter  se  militum  caedes,  post  sedition  em 
Ticini  coeptam  manente  legionum  auxiliorumque  discordia, 
ubi  adversus  paganos  certandum  foret,   consensu.     Sed 
plurima  strages  ad  septimum  ab  urbe  lapidem.     Singulis 
ibi  militibus  Vitellius  paratos  cibos  ut  gladiatoriam  sagi- 
nam  dividebat,  et  effusa  plebes  totis  se  castris  miscuerat. 
Incuriosos  milites  (vernacula  utebantur  urbanitate)  qui- 
dam spoliavere,  abscisis  furtim  balteis,  an  accincti  forent 


CHAPS.  88,  89,  90.]  HISTORIES   II  101 

rogitantes.  Non  tulit  ludibrium  insolens  contumeliarwm 
animus :  inermem  populum  gladiis  invasere.  Caesus  inter 
alios  pater  militis,  cum  filium  comitaretur;  deinde  ad- 
gnitus  et  vulgata  caede  temperatum  ab  innoxiis.  In  urbe 
tamen  trepidatum  praecurrentibus  passim  militibus;  fo- 
rum maxime  petebant,  cupidine  visendi  locum,  in  quo 
Galba  iacuisset.  Nee  minus  saevum  spectaculum  erant 
ipsi,  tergis  ferarum  et  ingentibus  telis  horrentes,  cum  tur- 
bam  populi  per  inscitiam  parum  vitarent,  aut  ubi  lubrico 
viae  vel  occursu  alicuius  procidissent,  ad  iurgium,  mox  ad 
manus  et  ferrum  transirent.  Quin  et  tribuni  praefectique 
cum  terrore  et  armatorum  catervis  volitabant. 

Ipse  Vitellius  a  ponte  Mulvio  insigni  equo,  paludatus  89 
accinctusque,  senatum  et  populum  ante  se  agens,  quo 
minus  ut  captam  urbem  ingrederetur,  amicorum  consilio 
deterritus,  sumpta  praetexta  et  composite  agmine  in- 
cessit.  Quattuor  legionum  aquilae  per  frontem  totidem- 
que  circa  e  legionibus  aliis  vexilla,  mox  duodecim  alarum 
signa  et  post  peditum  ordines  eques,  dein  quattuor  et 
triginta  cohortes,  ut  nomina  gentium  aut  species  armorum 
forent,  discretae.  Ante  aquilas  praefecti  castrorum  tri- 
bunique  et  primi  centurionum  Candida  veste,  ceteri  iuxta 
suam  quisque  centuriam,  armis  donisque  fulgentes;  et 
militum  phalerae  torquesque  splendebant:  decora  facies 
et  non  Vitellio  principe  dignus  exercitus.  Sic  Capitolium 
ingressus  atque  ibi  matrem  complexus  Augustae  nomine 
honoravit. 

Postera  die  tanquam  apud  alterius  civitatis  senatum  90 
populumque  magnificam  orationem  de  semet  ipse  promp- 
sit,  industriam  temperantiamque  suam  laudibus  adtollens, 
consciis  flagitiorum  ipsis  qui  aderant  omnique  Italia,  per 
quam  somno  et  luxu  pudendus  incesserat.     Vulgus  tamen 


102  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  90,  91,  92. 

vacuum  curis  et  sine  falsi  verique  discrimine  solitas  adu- 
lationes  edoctum  clamore  et  vocibus  adstrepebat;  ab- 
nuentique  nomen  August!  expressere  ut  adsumeret,  tarn 
frustra  quam  recusaverat. 

91  Apud  civitatem  cuncta  interpretantem  funesti  ominis 
loco  acceptum  est,  quod  maximum  pontificatum  adeptus 
Vitellius  de  caerimoniis  publicis  XV  kalendas  Augustas 
edixisset,  antiquitus  infausto  die  'Cremerensi  Alliensique 
cladibus :   adeo  omnis  humani  divinique  iuris  expers,  pari 
libertorum    amicorum    socordia,  velut  inter  temulentos 
agebat.     Sed  comitia  consulum  cum  candidatis  civiliter 
celebrans  omnem  infimae  plebis  rumorem  in  theatre  ut 
spectator,  in  circo  ut  fautor  adfectavit':  quae  grata  sane 
et  popularia,   si   a  virtutibus  proficiscerentur,   memoria 
vitae  prioris  indecora  et  vilia  accipiebantur.     Ventitabat  in 
senatum,  etiam  cum  parvis  de  rebus  patres  consulerentur. 
Ac  forte  Priscus  Helvidius  praetor  designatus  contra  stu- 
dium   eius   censuerat.    Commotus  primo   Vitellius,   non 
tamen  ultra  quam  tribunos  plebis  in  auxilium  spretae 
potestatis    advocavit;     mox    mitigantibus    amicis,    qui 
altiorem  iracundiam  eius  verebantur,  nihil  novi  accidisse 
respondit,  quod  duo  senatores  in  re  publica  dissentirent ; 
solitum  se  etiam  Thraseae  contra  dicere.     Inrisere  ple- 
rique  inpudentiam  aemulationis ;   aliis  id  ipsum  placebat, 
quod    neminem    ex    praepotentibus,    sed   Thraseam    ad 
exemplar  verae  gloriae  legisset. 

92  Praeposuerat  praetorianis  Publilium  Sabinum  a  prae- 
fectura    cohortis,    lulium    Priscum    turn    centurionem: 
Priscus  Valentis,  Sabinus  Caecinae  gratia  pollebant ;  inter 
discordes  Vitellio  nihil  auctoritatis.    Munia  imperii  Cae- 
cina  ac  Valens  obibant,  olim  anxii  odiis,  quae  bello  et 
castris  male  dissimulata  pravitas  amicorum  et  fecunda 


CHAPS.  92,  93.]  HISTORIES  II  103 

gignendis  inimicitiis  civitas  auxerat,  dum  ambitu  comitatu 
et  inmensis  salutantium  agminibus  contendunt  comparan-  . 
turque,  variis  in  hunc  aut  ilium  Vitellii  inclinationibus. 
Nee  umquam  satis  fida  potentia,  ubi  nimia  est.  Simul 
ipsum  Vitellium,  subitis  offensis  aut  intempestivis  blan- 
ditiis  mutabilem,  contemnebant  metuebantque.  Nee  eo 
segnius  invaserant  domos  hortos  opesque  imperii,  cum 
flebilis  et  egens  nobilium  turba,  quos  ipsos  liberosque 
patriae  Galba  reddiderat,  nulla  principis  misericordia 
iuvarentur.  Gratum  primoribus  civitatis  etiam  plebs 
adprobavit,  quod  reversis  ab  exilio  iura  libertorum  con- 
cessisset,  quanquam  id  omni  modo  servilia  ingenia  cor- 
rumpebant,  abditis  pecuniis  per  occultos  aut  ambitiosos 
sinus,  et  quidam  in  domum  Caesaris  transgressi  atque 
ipsis  dominis  potentiores. 

Sed  miles,  plenis  castris  et  redundante  multitudine,  93 
in  porticibus  aut  delubris  et  urbe  tota  vagus,  non  prin- 
cipia  noscere,  non  servare  vigilias  neque  labore  firmari: 
per  inlecebras  urbis  et  inhonesta  dictu  corpus  otio,  ani- 
mum  libidinibus  imminuebant.  Postremo,  ne  salutis 
quidem  cura :  infamibus  Vaticani  locis  magna  pars  teten- 
dit,  unde  crebrae  in  vulgus  mortes;  et  adiacente  Tiberi 
Germanorum  Gallorumque  obnoxia  morbis  corpora  flu- 
minis  aviditate  et  aestus  inpatientia  labefacta.  Confusus 
insuper  pravitate  vel  ambitu  ordo  militiae :  sedecim  prae- 
toriae,  quattuor  urbanae  cohortes  scribebantur,  quis 
singula  milia  inessent.  Plus  in  eo  dilectu  Valens  audebat, 
tanquam  ipsum  Caecinam  periculo  exemisset.  Sane 
adventu  eius  partes  convaluerant,  et  sinistrum  lenti  iti- 
neris  rumorem  prospero  proelio  verterat.  Omnisque 
inferioris  Germaniae  miles  Valentem  adsectabatur,  unde 
primum  creditur  Caecinae  fides  fluitasse. 


104  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  94,  95. 

94  Ceterum  non  ita  ducibus  indulsit  Vitellius,  ut  non  plus 
militi  liceret.     Sibi  quisque  militiam  sumpsere:   quamvis 
indignus,  si  ita  maluerat,  urbanae  militiae  adscribebatur ; 
rursus  bonis  remanere  inter  legionaries  aut  alares  volen- 
tibus  permissum.     Nee  deerant  qui  vellent,  fessi  morbis 
et  intemperiem  caeli  incusantes ;  robora  tamen  legionibus 
alisque   subtracta,    convulsum    castrorum   decus,   viginti 
milibus  e  toto  exercitu  permixtis  magis  quam  electis. 

Contionante  Vitellio  postulantur  ad  supplicium  Asiaticus 
et  Flavus  et  Rufinus  duces  Galliarum,  quod  pro  Vindice 
bellassent.  Nee  coercebat  eius  modi  voces  Vitellius: 
super  insitam  animo  ignaviam  conscius  sibi  instare  do- 
nativum  et  deesse  pecuniam  omnia  alia  militi  largiebatur. 
Liberti  principum  conferre  pro  numero  mancipiorum  ut 
tributum  iussi:  ipse  sola  perdendi  cura  stabula  aurigis 
extruere,  circum  gladiatorum  ferarumque  spectaculis  op- 
plere,  tanquam  in  summa  abundantia  pecuniae  inludere. 

95  Quin  et  natalem  Vitellii  diem  Caecina  ac  Valens  editis 
tota    urbe    vicatim    gladiatoribus    celebravere    ingenti 
paratu  et  ante  ilium  diem  insolito.     Laetum  foedissimo 
cuique  apud  bonos  invidiae  fuit,  quod  extructis  in  campo 
Martio  aris  inferias  Neroni  fecisset.    Caesae  publice  vic- 
timae  cremataeque;    facem  Augustales  subdidere,  quod 
sacerdotium,  ut  Romulus  Tatio  regi,  ita  Caesar  Tiberius 
luliae  genti  sacravit.     Nondum  quartus  a  victoria  mensis, 
et  libertus  Vitellii  Asiaticus  Polyclitos  Patrobios  et  vetera 
odiorum  nomina  aequabat.    Nemo  in  ilia  aula  probitate 
aut  industria  certavit :   unum  ad  potentiam  iter,  prodigis 
epulis  et  sumptu  ganeaque  satiare  inexplebiles  Vitellii 
libidines.    Ipse  abunde  ratus,  si  praesentibus  frueretur,  nee 
in  longius  consultans,  noviens  miliens  sestertium  paucis- 
simis  mensibus  intervertisse  creditur  sagina.     At  misera 


CHAPS.  95,  96,  97,  98.]      HISTORIES   II  105 

civitas,  eodem  anno  Othonem  Vitellium  passa,  inter  Vinios 
Fabios,  Icelos  Asiaticos  varia  et  pudenda  sorte  agebat, 
donee  successere  Mucianus  et  Marcellus  et  magis  alii 
homines  quam  alii  mores. 

Prima  Vitellio  tertiae  legionis  defectio  nuntiatur,  missis  96 
ab  Aponio  Saturnine  epistulis,  antequam  is  quoque  Ves- 
pasiani  partibus  adgregaretur ;  sed  neque  Aponius  cuncta, 
ut  trepidans  re  subita,  perscripserat,  et  amici  adulantes 
mollius  interpretabantur :  unius  legionis  earn  seditionem, 
ceteris  exercitibus  constare  fidem.  In  hunc  modum  etiam 
Vitellius  apud  milites  disseruit,  praetorianos  nuper  exauc- 
toratos  insectatus,  a  quibus  falsos  rumores  dispergi,  nee 
ullum  civilis  belli  metum  adseverabat,  suppresso  Ves- 
pasiani  nomine  et  vagis  per  urbem  militibus,  qui  sermones 
populi  coercerent.  Id  praecipuum  alimentum  famae 
erat. 

Auxilia  tamen  e  Germania  Britanniaque  et  Hispaniis97 
excivit  segniter  et  necessitatem  dissimulans.  Perinde 
legati  provinciaeque  cunctabantur,  Hordeonius  Flaccus 
suspectis  iam  Batavis  anxius  proprio  bello,  Vettius  Bo- 
lanus  numquam  satis  quieta  Britannia,  et  uterque  ambigui. 
Neque  ex  Hispaniis  properabatur,  nullo  turn  ibi  consulari : 
trium  legionum  legati,  pares  iure  et  prosperis  Vitellii  rebus 
certaturi  ad  obsequium,  adversam  eius  fortunam  ex  aequo 
detrectabant.  In  Africa  legio  cohortesque  delectae  a 
Clodio  Macro,  mox  a  Galba  dimissae,  rursus  iussu  Vitellii 
militiam  cepere;  simul  cetera  iuventus  dabat  inpigre 
nomina.  Quippe  integrum  illic  ac  favorabilem  procon- 
sulatum  Vitellius,  famosum  invisumque  Vespasianus 
egerat:  proinde  socii  de  imperio  utriusque  coniectabant, 
sed  experimentum  contra  fuit.  Ac  primo  Valerius  Festus  98 
legatus  studia  provincialium  cum  fide  iuvit ;  mox  nutabat, 


106  TACITUS  [CHAPS.  98,  99,  100. 

palam  epistulis  edictisque  Vitellium,  occultis  nuntiis 
Vespasianum  fovens  et  haec  illave  defensurus,  prout  in- 
valuissent. 

Deprehensi  cum  litteris  edictisque  Vespasiani  per  Rae- 
tiam  et  Gallias  militum  et  centurionum  quidam  ad  Vitel- 
lium missi  necantur;  plures  fefellere,  fide  amicorum  aut 
suomet  astu  occultati.  Ita  Vitellii  paratus  noscebantur, 
Vespasiani  consiliorum  pleraque  ignota,  primum  socordia 
Vitellii,  dein  Pannonicae  Alpes  praesidiis  insessae  nuntios 
retinebant.  Mare  quoque  etesiarum  flatu  in  Orientem 
navigantibus  secundum,  inde  adversum  erat. 
99  Tandem  inruptione  hostium  atrocibus  undique  nuntiis 
exterritus  Caecinam  ac  Valentem  expedire  ad  bellum 
iubet.  Praemissus  Caecina,  Valentem  e  gravi  corporis 
morbo  turn  primum  adsurgentem  infirmitas  tardabat. 
Longe  alia  proficiscentis  ex  urbe  Germanici  exercitus 
species:  non  vigor  corporibus,  non  ardor  animis;  lentum 
et  rarum  agmen,  fluxa  arma,  segnes  equi;  inpatiens  solis 
pulveris  tempestatum,  quantumque  hebes  ad  sustinen- 
dum  laborem  miles,  tanto  ad  discordias  promptior.  Ac- 
cedebat  hue  Caecinae  ambitio  vetus,  torpor  recens,  nimia 
fortunae  indulgentia  soluti  in  luxum,  seu  perfidiam  medi- 
tanti  infringere  exercitus  virtutem  inter  artes  erat. 
Credidere  plerique  Flavii  Sabini  consiliis  concussam 
Caecinae  mentem,  ministro  sermonum  Rubrio  Gallo :  rata 
apud  Vespasianum  fore  pacta  transitionis.  Simul  odiorum 
invidiaeque  erga  Fabium  Valentem  admonebatur,  ut  inpar 
apud  Vitellium  gratiam  viresque  apud  novum  principem 
pararet. 

10O  Caecina  e  complexu  Vitellii  multo  cum  honore  digressus 
partem  equitum  ad  occupandam  Cremonam  praemisit. 
Mox  vexilla  primae  quartae  quintaedecumae  sextae- 


CHAPS.  100,  101.]  HISTORIES  II  107 

decumae  legionum,  dein  quinta  et  duoetvicensima  secutae; 
postremo  agmine  unaetvicensima  Rapax  et  prima  Italica 
incessere  cum  vexillariis  trium  Britannicarum  legionum 
et  electis  auxiliis.  Profecto  Caecina  scripsit  Fabius  Valens 
exercitui,  quern  ipse  ductaverat,  ut  in  itinere  opperiretur: 
sic  sibi  cum  Caecina  convenisse.  Qui  praesens  eoque  vali- 
dior  mutatum  id  consilium  finxit,  ut  ingruenti  bello  tota 
mole  occurreretur.  Ita  adcelerare  legiones  Cremonam, 
pars  Hostiliam  petere  iussae:  ipse  Ravennam  devertit 
praetexto  classem  adloquendi ;  mox  Patavi  secretum  com- 
ponendae  proditionis  quaesitum.  Namque  Lucilius  Bassus 
post  praef ecturam  alae  Ravennati  simul  ac  Misenensi  clas- 
sibus  a  Vitellio  praepositus,  quod  non  statim  praefecturam 
praetorii  adeptus  foret,  iniquam  iracundiam  flagitiosa 
perfidia  ulciscebatur.  Nee  sciri  potest  traxeritne  Caeci- 
nam,  an,  quod  evenit  inter  malos,  eadem  illos  pravitas 
inpulerit.  Scriptores  temporum,  qui  potiente  rerumioi 
Flavia  domo  monimenta  belli  huiusce  composuerunt,  curam 
pacis  et  amorem  rei  publicae,  corruptas  in  adulationem 
causas,  tradidere:  nobis  super  insitam  levitatem  et  pro- 
dito  Galba  vilem  mox  fidem  aemulatione  etiam  invidiaque, 
ne  ab  aliis  apud  Vitellium  anteirentur,  pervertisse  ipsi 
Vitellium  videntur.  Caecina  legiones  adsecutus  centurio- 
num  militumque  animos  obstinates  pro  Vitellio  variis  ar- 
tibus  subruebat:  Basso  eadem  molienti  minor  difficultas 
erat,  lubrica  ad  mutandam  fidem  classe  ob  memoriam 
recentis  pro  Othone  militiae. 


NOTES 

1-3.  Preface:  defects  of  previous  historians, — Tacitus  will  be 
impartial,  1;  sketch  of  the  period  to  be  covered,  2-3. 

I.  initium:  a  history  of  the  Flavian  dynasty  (69-96  A.D.)  of 
necessity  included  the  circumstances  which  brought  Vespasian  to 
the  throne.  January,  69,  was  an  eventful  month  both  in  Rome 
and  on  the  Rhine,  —  Galba  assassinated,  and  succeeded  by  Otho, 
shortly  after  Vitellius  had  been  proclaimed  emperor  in  Germany; 
Intr.  4.  —  iterum:  he  had  been  consul  in  33,  under  Tiberius, 
who  then  predicted  that  he  would  be  emperor;  Ann.  6,  20.  — 
viginti:  in  a  less  rhetorical  context  the  exact  number  might  have 
been  given,  viz.  821  (753  +  68);  cf.  4,  58,  74  (820  and  800).— 
auctores:  in  the  silver  Latin  and  modern  sense  =  scriptores.  — 
res  populi  Roman!:  republican  period  contrasted  with  imperial; 
cf.  Ann.  1,  1  veteris  populi  Romani  prospera  vel  adversa.  —  elo- 
quentia  ac  libertate:  emphasized  by  the  word-order,  as  qualities 
which  presently  disappeared  (postquam,  etc.);  join  with  rettulerunt. 

—  bellatum:   Intr.   24.  —  apud  Actium:  he  does  not  mean  that 
the  magna  ingenia  came  abruptly  to  an    end  in  31  B.C.,  which 
would  exclude  Livy.     In  Ann.  1, 1  also  the  decline  of  honest  history 
begins  with  Augustus.  —  potentiam:  not  potestatem,  which  would 
be  legitimate  authority;   cf.  2  fin.,  13  init.;  2,  65,  92.  —  pluribus: 
without  comparative  force  =  compluribus,  a  rare  word  in  Tac.; 
cf.  2,  4.  —  inscitia:  lacks  the  sense  of  blame  attached  to  this  word 
in  Cicero;  cf.  2,  77  fin.  with  88  fin.  — mox  =  postea,  as  very  freq. 
in  Tac.  —  libidine:    cf.  90  ex  libidine   servitii;    12  libidine   talia 
loquendi.  —  inter  infensos:  the  inier-phrase  summarizes  a  situation 
with   the  greatest  brevity;   cf.   34  fin.;   50;   2,  92,   95;    Agr.  32 
inter  male  parentes  et  iniuste  imperantes.  —  ambitionem:    partiality, 
motived  by  the  desire  to  advance  one's  self.  —  averseris:    indef. 
2d  sing.;  cf.  quae  velis,  below;  cf.  16  si  velis;  83  ni  .  .  .  adhibeas. 

—  obtrectatio,  etc. :   cf .  34  facilius  de  odio  creditur.  —  dignitatem : 

109 


110  NOTES 

Intr.  2.  —  abnuerim:  more  polite  than  the  blunt  indie.;  cf. 
Dial.  26  equidem  non  negaverim;  ib.  32  paene  dixerim;  Hist. 
1,  83  fin.  crediderim  (2,  50),  2,  37  concesserim.  —  incorruptam  = 
incorruptible,  as  in  Horace's  incorrupta  Fides,  C.  1,  24,  7; 
cf.  Ann.  1,  1  sine  ira  et  studio,  quorum  causas  procul  habeo.  — 
amore:  Intr.  13.  —  dicendus:  the  affirmative  quisque,  or  unus 
quisque,  is  to  be  supplied  from  neque  .  .  .  quisquam;  cf.  2,  52 
fin.;  Hor.  Sat.  1,  1,  1-3.  For  dicere  =  commemorare  cf.  2,  8; 
Ann.  1,  1.  —  securiorem:  i.e.  less  thorny;  the  danger  is  not  from 
the  emperor,  but  from  the  friends  of  those  whom  he  must  men- 
tion; cf.  Hor.  C.I,  1,  6-8.  —  seposui:  Intr.  4  fin. 

2.  opus  adgredior:  chaps.  2  and  3  give  an  intensely  vivid  im- 
pressionistic picture  of  the  period  to  be  covered  by  the  Histories, 
—  its  sombre  side  in  2,  its  brighter  lights  in  3.  On  the  style  of 
the  passage,  cf.  Intr.  22.  —  discors:  the  time  is  personified,  and 
its  epithets  then  transferred  to  opus.  —  pace:  under  the  tyranny 
of  Domitian.  —  quattuor:  Galba,  slain  in  the  Forum,  Jan  ,  69  (cf. 
41);  Otho,  by  his  own  hand,  Apr.,  69  (2, 49);  Vitellius,  by  the  mob, 
Dec.,  69;  (3,  85)  Domitian,  assassinated  Sept.,  96.  —  trina:  i.e. 
three  times  over,  three  distinct;  not  a  mere  substitution  of  distrib. 
for  cardinal.  —  civilia:  Otho  against  Vitellius,  Vitellius  against  Ves- 
pasian (both  69),  Domitian  against  his  governor  of  Upper  Ger- 
many, L.  Antonius  Saturninus  (winter  of  88-89).  —  permixta: 
civil  war  and  foreign  campaign  at  the  same  time,  esp.  the  Jewish 
War  (cf.  prosperae  in  Oriente  res),  and  that  between  Vespasian 
and  Vitellius.  The  war  with  Civilis  also  (70)  was  at  once  foreign 
and  domestic;  cf.  2,  69  interno  simul  externoque  bello.  —  turba- 
tum:  by  the  revolt  of  the  legions  to  Vespasian.  —  Illyricum:  the 
provinces  of  Pannonia,  Dalmatia,  and  Moesia;  cf.  9,  76;  2,  32.  — 
nutantes:  an  incident  of  the  Batavian  revolt  under  Civilis  was 
the  establishment  of  an  ephemeral  imperium  Galliarum;  4,  59.  — 
perdomita:  by  Agricola,  the  father-in-law  of  Tac,,  in  78-84;  but 
his  northern  conquests  were  promptly  given  up  (missa  =  omissa; 
cf.  Intr.  17)  by  Domitian;  Agr.  18-38.  —  Sarmatarum,  etc.: 
the  bellum  Suebicum  et  Sarmaticum  of  92,  from  which  Domitian 
returned,  Jan.,  93.  A  less  important  affair  with  a  Sarmatian 
tribe,  below.  79.  — falsi  Neronis:  this  pretender  appeared  twenty 
years  after  the  death  of  Nero;  Suet.  Nero  57.  For  another 


BOOK  I  HI 

"Nero"  cf.  2,  8  f.  —  hausta:  he  probably  refers  both  to  the 
earthquake  of  63  and  the  eruption  of  Vesuvius  in  79.  —  incendiis: 
besides  the  burning  of  the  Capitol,  69,  there  was  a  great  fire  in 
80,  under  Titus.  —  consumptis:  cf.  Intr.  7,  12.  —  Capitolio  .  .  . 
incenso:  during  the  riots  of  Vitellius'  last  days  (3,  71);  rebuilt  by 
Vespasian  (4,  53).  —  caerimoniae :  i.e.  Vestals  proved  false  to 
their  vows.  —  magna  =  in  high  life. — eziliis:  for  exulibus;  Intr. 
15;  the  gen.  would  be  the  regular  const,  with  plenus.  —  scopuli: 
rocky  islets  off  the  west  coast  of  Italy  or  in  the  Aegean,  much 
used  for  political  prisoners.  —  omissi:  Intr.  11;  the  refusal  of 
an  office  could  be  distorted  into  an  evidence  of  disaffection.  — 
procurationes:  the  procurators  were  fiscal  agents  of  the  emperor 
in  the  provinces,  and  governors  of  some  of  the  smallest  prov- 
inces, e.g.  Judaea,  the  Maritime  Alps,  Noricum,  Mauretania;  cf. 
7,  11  f.,  58,  70;  2,  12,  58.  —  agerent  verterent:  Tacitus  varies  the 
common  phrase  ferre  agere  by  changing  the  order  and  substituting 
vertere  ( =  evertere)  for  ferre,  thus  completing  the  idea  of  ruin.  — 
odio  =  by  arousing  hatred.  —  per  amicos:  cf .  2,  63  for  an  instance. 

3.  sterile:    with  gen.  on  the  analogy  of  its  opposite  fertilis. — 
coniuges:   e.g.  Fannia,  the  friend  of  Pliny  (Ep.  7,  19,  4),  daugh- 
ter of  one  famous  irreconcilable  (Thrasea  Paetus)   and  wife  of 
another    (Helvidius   Priscus).  —  supremae  .  .  .  necessitates:    i.e. 
the  situation  of  men  who  have  been  sentenced  to  death,  or  have 
received  notice  to  commit  suicide  (as  in  72).  —  antiquorum:  e.g. 
Socrates,  Demosthenes,  Cato  the  Younger.  —  caelo  terraque:  like 
terra  marique;    Sail.   Jug.  17,  5.  —  laeta  tristia:    a  special  use  of 
these  words  in  augury ,  etc. ;   cf.  27  init.;  for  the  double  asyndeton 
cf.  10  luxuria,  etc.;    2,  80  spes  timor  ratio  casus.  —  iustis  =  com- 
plete, satisfactory.  —  securitatem  =  peace  of  mind. 

4-11.     Introduction:   general  sketch  of  conditions  in  the  city 
since  the  death  of  Nero,  4-7;   in  the  provinces  and  armies,  8-11. 

4.  repetendum:    repetere  =  recall,  is  very  freq.;    cf.  50;    2,  27; 
very  rarely  to  repeat  (of  words).  —  habitus  =  attitude,  condition; 
cf.  8  and  28  habitus  animorum.  — fortuiti,  etc.:  the  element  of 
chance,  prominent  in  single  occurrences   (casus  eventusque),  be- 
comes less  conspicuous  when  attention  is  called  to  interrelations 
and  causes  (ratio  causaeque).  —  ut  .  .  .  ita  =  though  .  .  .  yet,  as 
very  freq.;  e.g.  6  fin.,  7,  52;   2,  37,  50.  —  laetus:  active  sense,  as 


112  NOTES 

71  fan.  —  gaudentium:  i.e.  of  joy;  but  Tac.  prefers  the  more 
dramatic  effect  of  the  ptcp.  used  as  a  subst.  Cf.  Intr.  15.  —  ur- 
banum  militem:  the  whole  garrison,  not  merely  the  praetorians. 

—  legiones:    still  under  the  influence  of  apud  (usually  repeated); 
cf .  46  bella  civilia.  —  imperil  =  of  the  succession;  cf .  64  (accession)  • 
14;    76  fin. — posse:    with  arcano.  —  ut  erga  principem:    a  freq. 
use  of  ut  in  a  comparison  suggested,  but  not  fully  expressed;   one 
may  supply  fieri  solet,  but  the  ellipse  was  probably  unconscious; 
cf.  34  med.,  55  fin.,  90  fin.;  2,  34,  73;  Agr.  11  ut  inter  barbaros;  cf. 
tanquam,  8  init.  —  absentem:  some  three  months  probably  elapsed 
before  Galba  arrived  from  Spain.  — primores  =  illustres;  i.e.  such 
knights  as  had  the  senatorial  census,  and  were  potentially  sena- 
tors.—  integra:     contrasted    with    sordida,    below.  —  circo  .  .  . 
sueta:    cf.  2,  32  Italiae  sueta.  —  per:    circumstance,  not  means 

—  to  the  shame  of  Nero. 

5.  longo  =  diuturno  =  immemorial;     cf.    21    longo   exilio;    89 
longo  bello;    2,  76  longo  imperio.  —  arte:    the  pretence  that  Nero 
was  deserting  them,  and  the  false  promise  of  money  (sub  nomine 
Galbae).  —  eundem:    sc.  esse.  —  praeventam:    i.e.  praeoccupatam; 
cf.   53   praeventus.  —  legionibus:     Galba   was   the   first   emperor 
created  by  the  legions,  viz.  VI  Victrix,  X   Gemina,  and  the  new 
VII  Galbiana,  —  all  Spanish.  —  Nymphidius:   a  creature  of  Nero, 
claiming  to  be  a  son  of  Caligula;  as  prefect  since  65  he  forced 
his  colleague  Tigellinus  to  retire;    cf.  72.  —  oppressus:   on  coming 
to  the  camp  to  be  hailed  imperator  he  was  slain  by  the  praetorians. 

—  quamvis:   with  ablato,  silver  Latin  with  ptcp.;   cf.  18.  — pleris- 
que  =  many;    not  in  the  Ciceronian  sense  of  most;  cf.  13  fin.,  27 
fin.      For   the    superl.  Tac.  uses  plurimi.  —  senium:    he  was  73 
according  to  49  below,  and  Plut.  Galba  8  (72,  Suet.  23).  —  severi- 
tas  =  strictness.  —  verebantur  =  reverebantur;    Intr.   17.  —  anceps- 
critical.  —  legi:  cf.  Suet.  16  legere  se  militem,  non  emere  consuesse. 

—  formam:  we  should  say  up  to  this  standard,  after  this  stamp. 
Cf.  18  fin. 

6.  Vinius:    for  his  life  and  character,  cf.  48.  —  Laco :    made 
praefectus  praetorio  by  Galba;  cf.  13  f.,  19,  39,46  fin. — flagitiorum: 
takes  up  deterrimus,  as  inertiae  repeats  the  thought  of  ignavissi- 
mus.      Vinius'  vices  were  a  heavy  load  for  Galba  to  carry;    with 
Laco's  inertia  added  (cf.  24  fin.),  they  completed  his  ruin.  — iter: 


BOOK  I  113 

he  probably  left  Spain  about  the  beginning  of  July,  spending 
some  two  months  on  the  way.  —  Cingonius:  he  was  said  to  have 
written  a  speech  for  Nymphidius  to  deliver  to  the  praetorians 
(Plut.  Galba  14). — P.  Petronius  Turpilianus:  cos.  61;  gov.  of 
Britain  61-64;  commanded  Nero's  army  against  Galba;  brother- 
in-law  of  Vitellius.  —  inauditi  atque  indefensi:  cf.  2,  10  indefensum 
et  inauditum;  Dial.  16.  —  introitus:  near  the  Milvian  Bridge  (cf. 
87)  Galba  was  met  by  a  body  of  marines  clamoring  that  he  enroll 
them  also  among  the  legions,  as  Nero  had  formed  the  1st  Classica 
(v.  below).  Galba,  offended  at  the  breach  of  discipline,  ordered 
them  to  be  cut  down;  decimation  and  imprisonment  followed; 
cf.  37,  87;  2,  11  fin.  —  Hispana:  i.e.  VII  Galbiana  (later  Gemina), 
recruited  in  Spain  by  Galba;  soon  sent  to  Pannonia;  cf.  2,  86; 
3,  7,  10.  —  e  classe:  v.  on  introitus  above;  under  Galba  it  became 
I  Adiutrix;  cf.  31  legio  classica;  on  82  praefecto  legionis;  2,  11, 
43,  67.  —  numeri  =  detachments;  cf.  87  in  numeros  legionis;  Agr. 
18;  comprehensive  term  for  any  of  the  subdivisions  of  the  legion, 
cohort,  or  ala,  including  also  vexilla  (cf.  on  31  s.  v.).  —  Caspiarum: 
sc.  portarum.  The  Albani  occupied  the  eastern  end  of  the  Cau- 
casus, down  to  the  Caspian.  The  pass  (more  correctly  called 
portae  Caucasiae,  according  to  Pliny)  led  northward  to  the  Sar- 
matian  Alani,  here  confused  with  the  Albani.  —  opprimendis:  this 
purpose  constr.,  very  limited  in  class.  Latin,  becomes  common  in 
Tacitus'  latest  work;  cf.  41.  —  C.  lulius  Vindex:  a  Gaul,  of  a 
royal  Aquitanian  family.  His  father  became  a  Roman  senator, 
and  he  was  himself  governor  of  Gallia  Lugudunensis  (or  perhaps 
Belgica).  In  March,  68,  he  headed  a  rebellion  against  Nero, 
calling  upon  Galba  to  assume  the  leadership.  Verginius  Rufus, 
governor  of  Upper  Germany,  led  the  Rhine  legions  against  the 
Gallic  insurgents,  and  while  the  generals  were  negotiating  at 
Vesontio  (Besanson)  the  legionaries  routed  the  militia  of  Vindex, 
who  thereupon  took  his  own  life  (May,  68).  —  ut  .  .  .  ita:  cf.  on 
4  ut  .  .  .  ita.  —  unum  all  quern:  cf.  82  neminem  unum.  —  prono 
favore:  abl.  qual.  balanced  by  parata;  Intr.  13. 

7.  congruerat:  a  single  ui-clause  is  made  to  include  both  terms 
of  the  coincidence.  —  L.  Clodius  Macer:  legatus  of  the  Hid  legion 
Augusta  in  Numidia.  Apparently  the  proconsul  of  Africa  was 
forced  to  flee,  and  Macer,  usurping  his  powers,  at  first  claimed 


114  NOTES 

to  act  in  the  name  of  the  senate,  and  minted  coins  under  the 
republican  title  of  propraetor  Africae,  cf.  73. — Fonteius  Capito: 
cos.  ord.  67,  then  governor  of  Lower  Germany;  cf.  8,  52,  58;  3, 
62.  —  procurator:  cf.  on  2  procurationes;  the  procurator  was  the 
natural  enemy  of  the  governor;  cf.  12.  —  Valens:  becomes  very 
prominent  in  the  story  of  Vitellius'  rise  to  power;  cf.  on  52.  — 
legati:  in  the  time  of  Julius  Caesar  the  change  took  place  from  the 
six  tribunes  to  the  single  legatus  in  command.  —  ut  .  .  .  maculo- 
sum:  sc.  fuisse;  although  the  clause  is  logically  subordinate  (cf. 
4  ut  .  .  .  ita),  symmetry  prevails,  —  a  usage  of  Livy  and  Tacitus; 
cf.  17.  —  foedum  ac  maculosum:  cf.  the  same,  2,  30;  1,  72 
foeda  puerilia.  —  nequiverint:  for  the  pluperf.;  cf.  34  vulgaverint; 
2,  41  coeptaverint.  —  dolum  =  insidias;  cf.  58.  —  ultro:  accom- 
panies an  act  of  aggression,  or  one  which  is  unexpected,  show- 
ing firmness,  enterprise,  or  insolence;  cf.  32,  62,  71,  74,  82  fin.; 
2,  35,  42,  60,  65,  70  fin.;  sometimes  where  one  falls  into  his 
own  trap,  e.g.  2,  25  —  an  =  sive;  a  rare  use  in  Cicero  and 
Livy,  but  frequent  in  Tacitus;  cf .  28.  —  servorum:  contemptuous 
for  libertorum;  cf.  2,  92  fin.  servilia  ingenia.  —  subitis:  circum- 
stantial abl.,  neuter,  in  place  of  rebus  subitis;  cf.  10,  69;  3,  64.  — 
aetas:  cf.  on  5  senium.  —  forma:  so  Pliny  the  Younger  speaks  of 
the  populace  as  praising  Nero  because  he  was  formosus  (Pan.  2). 
8.  Et  .  .  .  quidem:  frequent  in  resumes;  cf.  5, 16  fin.,  63. — tan- 
quam  .  .  .  multitudine :  since  the  sentence  is  an  epitome  of  4-7, 
the  point  turns  on  the  great  diversity  of  sentiment,  —  a  matter  of 
course  in  a  city  of  such  size.  Cf.  on  4  ut  erga  principem.  Plut. 
Galba  26,  has  the  equivalent,  ola  d£  tv  -ir\^8ei  To<rotfry.  —  His- 
paniae:  sc.  Tarraconensi;  until  recently  the  province  of  Galba. 
It  had  two  legions,  VI  Victrix  and  X  Gemina;  cf .  2,  58.  — 
Cluvius  Rufus:  the  lost  historian,  probably  one  of  Tacitus'  chief 
sources  for  this  period.  He  was  cos.  under  Caligula;  in  67  he 
acted  as  herald  for  Nero  on  his  concert-tour  of  Greece.  Under 
Vitellius  he  governed  his  Spanish  province  still,  but  in  absentia. 
Cf.  2,  58,  65;  1,  76.  — pacis  artibus:  abl.  qual.  with  a  gen.  in 
place  of  adj.  He  was  orator  as  well  as  historian  (4,  43).  —  bellis: 
for  the  abl.,  cf.  2,  75  bello  inexpertas.  — inexpertus:  passively,  un- 
tried; cf.  2,  4  fin.  —  super  =  praeter,  as  often  in  Livy;  cf.  51 
super  avaritiam  et  adrogantiam;  2,  8  super  similitudinem  oris;  44 


BOOK   I  115 

super  cladem;  94  super  .  .  .  ignaviam;  Agr.  17  super  virtutem 
hostium.  —  Vindicis:  cf.  on  6  fin.  for  his  relations  with  Galba,  who 
profited  by  the  support  of  those  who  had  been  attached  to  Vin- 
dex. — recent! :  Galba  conferred  full  citizenship  upon  all  mem- 
bers of  those  Gallic  communities  which  had  supported  Vindex 
and  himself.  A  limited  number  of  primores  had  been  so  honored 
20  years  before  by  Claudius,  but  for  which  act  Vindex  would  not 
have  been  a  Roman  senator.  —  in  posterum:  cf.  44  fin.,  87.  — 
levamento:  the  amount  is  given  in  51.  —  civitates:  cf.  53  fin.; 
they  had  taken  sides  with  Verginius  against  Vindex.  Treves 
(Trier)  and  Lyons  were  among  the  sufferers.  —  finibus:  cf. 
53  damno  finium.  —  quod:  sc.  est;  the  danger  arose  from  the 
fact  that  they  were  both  solliciti  (metu)  and  irati  (superbia). 
They  had  not  been  sufficiently  rewarded  for  their  service  against 
Vindex.  —  tanquam  .  .  .  fovissent  =  on  the  ground  that,  —  a  real 
reason  from  their  point  of  view;  often  in  the  belief  that;  a  fre- 
quent use  in  Tacitus;  cf.  18  fin.,  20  fin.,  48,  52,  58,  80;  2,  47,  63, 
65,  93;  velut  2,  8;  so  even  quasi  in  the  Annals,  —  L.  Verginius 
Rufus:  cos.  63,  69,  and  97;  governor  of  Upper  Germany  in  68, 
when  the  uprising  under  Vindex  took  place  (cf.  on  6  fin.).  Al- 
though a  novus  homo  (cf.  52  fin.),  he  enjoyed  later  the  credit  of 
having  three  times  refused  the  empire,  when  the  soldiers  wished 
to  raise  him  to  the  throne:  (1)  after  the  death  of  Vindex;  (2)  on 
the  news  of  Nero's  death;  (3)  after  the  suicide  of  Otho,  Apr.  69. 
His  epitaph  in  Pliny,  Ep.  6,.10;  (cf.  9  fin.;  2,  51,  68;  Plut.  Galba 
6,  10;  Otho  18).  Tacitus  himself,  as  cos.,  delivered  his  funeral 
oration  (Plin.  Ep.  2,  1,  6).  —  an:  Tacitus  regarded  it  as  a  matter 
of  real  uncertainty;  an  does  not  intimate  his  own  belief;  cf.  2,  45 
ignaris  ...  an  impetr assent.  —  Fonteium:  cf.  7  init.  —  reum: 
probably  not  an  actual  fact,  but  suspected  by  the  soldiers.  — 
suum  =  against  themselves. 

9.  exercitus:  at  Moguntiacum  (Mainz),  the  capital  of  the 
province,  the  IVth  legion  Macedonica  and  the  XXIId  Primigenia 
had  their  headquarters;  at  Vindonissa  (Windisch,  near  the  Swiss 
Baden)  was  the  station  of  the  XXIst  Rapax;  cf.  55.  Until  58 
there  had  been  four  legions.  —  legatum  =  commander-in-chief, 
governor  (i.e.  legatus  consularis) .  —  Hordeonius  Flaccus:  suc- 
cessor of  Verginius,  an  insignificant  figure,  inexperienced  in  affairs; 


116  NOTES 

cf.  52,  56;  2,  57,  97;  etc.;  killed  by  his  soldiers,  4,  36.  —  debili- 
tate pedum:    avoiding  the  medical   word,  podagra;    cf.  Intr.  20. 

—  ne  .  .  .  quidem  .  .  .  adeo:   an  occasional  correlation  in  silver 
Latin,  where  two  terms  are  strongly  contrasted,  —  here  quieto 
and  furentes;    adeo   (all  the  more)  thus  marks  that  which  goes 
without  saying;    cf.  3,  64;    4,  39  (3,  39;  4,   80).  —  retinentis:    of 
attempted  action;  cf.  17  fin.;  45  med.;  2,  18;  sc.  se.  —  legiones: 
I    Germanica    at    Bonna    (Bonn);    XVI    Gallica  at   Novaesium 
(Neuss,  about    20    miles    below    Cologne,  i.e.   Colonia    Agrippi- 
nensis,  the  chief  town;  cf.  on  56);   V  Alaudae  and  XV  Primi- 
genia  at  Vetera    (Xanten,   about  35  m.    p.  below   Neuss),  the 
military   headquarters.  —  consular! :    sc.   legato;   cf.    above    lega- 
tum;  for  Capito's  death  cf.  7  init.  —  A.  Vitellius:   the  future  em- 
peror (Apr.  69-Dec.);  a  favorite  of  Tiberius  at  Capri,  of  Caligula, 
Claudius,  and  Nero;    cos.  48;    procos.  of  Africa,  60-61  (?);  for  his 
assumption  of  the  purple,  cf.  52  ff.;    his  character,  3,  86;    his 
mother,  2,  64.  —  aderat:    only  here  does  Tacitus  use  donee  with 
imperf.  indie.;    had  he  chosen  to  use  advenire,  he  would  have 
said  advenit.  —  L.  Vitellius:  cos.  34,  43  (with  Claudius  as  colleague), 
47  (do.);    censor  47  (do.)  and  48;   governor  of  Syria  35  ff.;   acted 
as  Claudius'  representative  at  Rome,  43,  when  that  emperor  in- 
vaded Britain;   cf.  52  fin.  —  id:   i.e.  the  appointment  of  any  man 
of  distinguished  family,  regardless  of  special  claims.  —  Britannico: 
the  legions  were:   II  Augusta,  IX  Hispana,  XX  Valeria  Victrix, 

—  the  last  at  Deva  (Chester).  —  diyisae:    sc.  erant;    a  frequent 
ellipsis  in  the  causal   clause;    cf.   2,   12.  —  Illyrico:    large,   but 
scattered,  forces  were  stationed  in  the  provinces  east  of  the  Adri- 
atic: XIII  Gemina  and,  presently,  VII  Galbiana  in  Pannonia;   XI 
Claudia  and,  temporarily,  XIV  Gemina  (from  Britain)  in  Dal- 
matia;    VII  Claudia,  VIII  Augusta  and,  for  the  time,  III  Gallica 
(from  Syria)  in  Moesia.  —  excitae:    to  oppose  Vindex,  and  per- 
haps  Galba.  —  cunctantur:    apparently  some  of  these  legions, 
or  detachments  from  them,  reached  Italy,  but  were  not  mobi- 
lized, and  soon  returned   separately  at   Galba's    command;  cf. 
70  acciti  .  .  .  ac  turn  in  Italia  manentes.  —  Verginium:    the  time 
is  probably  after  the  death  of  Nero,  and  before  V.'s  second  refusal 
became  known;    cf.  on  8.  —  quod:    appositive  to  nee  vitiis  .  .  . 
miscebantur.  —  miscebantur :    cf.   Agr.  25  mixti  copiis  et  laetitia, 
with  the  same  idea  of  sharing,  combining. 


BOOK  I  117 

10.  inmotus:  cf.  Intr.  16.  —  legiones:  IV  Scyihica,  VI  Ferrata, 
XII  Fulminata;  the  Hid  Gallica  also  belonged  to  Mucianus' 
command,  but  was  now  in  Moesia,  having  been  ordered  to  the 
west  by  Nero  shortly  before  his  death.  —  C.  Licinius  Mucianus: 
cos.  once  under  Nero,  twice  early  in  the  reign  of  Vespasian,  whose 
minister  he  became  in  69;  governor  (legatus  consularis)  of  Syria 
from  67,  and  one  of  the  leading  figures  in  book  2;  cf.  2,  4  f.,  7, 
74  ff.  —  secundis:  cf.  on  7  subitis.  —  secretum  Asiae  =  the  seclu- 
sion of  Asia  (Minor);  one  of  Tacitus'  extensions  of  the  partitive 
gen.  —  sepositus:  applied  to  a  man  who  was  not  formally  ban- 
ished, but  effectually  removed,  often  under  the  guise  of  an  official 
appointment;  cf.  13,  the  case  of  Otho;  cf.  46  fin.,  88  init.  He 
was  probably  offered  an  inferior  position  in  Asia;  and  later  Nero 
made  him  legatus  of  Lycia;  cf.  Ann.  4,  44  fin.  —  a  principe:  he 
was  to  Vespasian  what  Maecenas  and  Agrippa  had  been  to  Augus- 
tus.—  luxuria:  cf.  on  3  laeta  tristia;  the  good  and  bad  qualities 
are  arranged  in  a  chiastic  order;  the  same  figure  also  in  the 
second  member  of  the  sentence.  —  mixtus:  would  naturally  agree 
with  artibus  (qualities;  cf.  45);  but  cf.  Agr.  4  Massiliam  .  .  . 
locum  Graeca  comitate  et  provinciali  parsimonia  mixtum.  —  va- 
caret:  subjv.  of  repeated  action.  Latin  of  the  golden  age  regu- 
larly preferred  the  indie,  in  such  clauses,  but  the  subjv.  imperf. 
or  pluperf.  is  found  in  Caesar  (e.g.  B.  C.  2,  15,  2),  and  common 
in  Livy^and  Tag.:  cf.  49  incidisset;  62  incederet;  66  fin.  deesset, 
etc.  ^-expedierat£i  absolute;  cf.  88  secum  expedire  iubet;  2,  99 
expedire  ad  bettitm.  —  palam :  condensed  for  quae  palam  agebat.  — 
laudares:  potential  of  past  time,  indef.  2d  person;  cf.  45  crederes; 
57  scires;  2,  62  non  timeres.  —  collegas:  i.e.  governors  of  neighbor- 
ing provinces,  e.g.  Vespasian.  —  expeditius  =  facilius.  —  obtinere: 
not  obtain,  but  keep,  maintain;  the  thought  is  that  Mucianus 
did  gainr'  the  imperium  potentially,  but  only  to  transfer  it  to 
another  (tradere).  —  T.  Flavius  Vespasianus:  the  future  emperor, 
son  of/a  Sabine  tax  farmer  and  money  lender;  first  distinguished 
hims/lf  as  legatus  of  the  lid  legion  in  the  conquest  of  Britain 
under  Claudius,  43;  cos.  51;  procos.  of  Africa  (cf.  2,  97);  legatus 
ofyffudaea,  67  ff.;  cf.  2,  4  ff.,  74  ff.  —  legionibus:  i.e.  V  Macedonica, 
Fretensis,  XV  Apollinaris  (5,  1).  The  Jewish  War  required 
this  great  force,  and  the  province,  formerly  ruled  by  a  procu- 


118  NOTES 

rator,  now  had  a  legatus  consularis.  —  Titus:  he  had  served  with 
his  father  as  tribune  in  Germany  and  Britain;  had  brought  the 
Vth  and  Xth  legions  from  Alexandria  (Alexandretta?);  was  now 
legatus  legionis;  succeeded  his  father  as  emperor  in  79.  —  suo  loco: 
2,  1.  —  occulta  fati:  credidimus  here  has  two  objects:  (1)  occulta 
fati,  and  (2)  an  oratio  obliqua;  cf.  19,  22  fin.;  for  the  gen.  cf.  26 
incerta  noctis;  85  secreta  domuum.  Tac.  has  a  great  variety  of 
similar  phrases  influenced  by  the  Greek.  —  ostentis:  cf.  2,  78.  — 
fortunam:  for  its  special  application  to  the  throne,  cf.  15  med. 
dignus  hoc  fortuna. 

11.  copias:  the  legions  were  III  Cyrenaica  and  XXII  Deio- 
tariana;  cf.  5,  1.  —  a  divo  Augusto:  on  account  of  the  ease  with 
which  Egypt  could  be  held  by  a  usurper,  and  its  vast  grain  supply 
withheld  from  the  Roman  market,  Augustus  placed  the  country 
on  a  different  basis  from  all  other  provinces.  Neither  senators 
nor  equites  illustres  (cf.  on  4  sub  fin.)  could  enter  Egypt  without 
permission,  and  the  governor  was  a  praefect,  of  equestrian  rank, 
standing  next  in  rank  to  the  praefectus  praetorio;  cf.  3,  8. — 
regum:  the  line  of  the  Ptolemies,  ending  with  Cleopatra.  — 
domi:  i.e.  Egypt  was  treated  as  a  private  estate  of  the  emperors, 
to  be  managed  as  they  managed  their  other  lands.  —  Tib.  lulius 
Alexander:  a  Jew  who  had  discarded  his  nationality;  procurator 
of  Judaea  under  Claudius;  with  Corbulo  in  the  war  against 
Armenia,  63  (Ann.  15,  28);  made  prefect  of  Egypt  by  Nero; 
played  an  important  part  in  the  elevation  of  Vespasian  (cf .  2,  74, 
79)  and  was  rewarded  by  the  post  of  praef.  praetorio  to  Titus  be- 
fore Jerusalem.  — legio:  the  Hid  Augusta.  Another  legion  was 
formed  by  Macer,  and  named  I  Liberatrix  Macriana,  as  his  coins 
show,  but  it  was  soon  disbanded  by  Galba;  cf.  2,  97;  on  7  init. 
—  domini  minor  is  =  a  petty  tyrant.  —  Mauretaniae:  i.e.  the  greater 
part  of  Algiers  and  Morocco;  they  had  been  organized  as  provinces, 
each  under  a  procurator,  by  Claudius  in  42;  cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  5,  11; 
Dio  60,  9.  At  present  both  were  under  the  same  governor;  cf. 
2,  58  f.  —  Raetia:  included  the  eastern  half  of  Switzerland,  Tyrol, 
and  the  southern  part  of  Bavaria,  to  the  Danube  on  the  north, 
and  the  Inn  on  the  east.  —  Noricum:  between  Raetia  and  Pan- 
nonia,  from  the  Alps  north  of  Venice  to  the  Danube.  —  Thracia: 
including  also  modern  East  Rumelia  and  southern  Bulgaria.  — • 


BOOK  I  119 

aliae:  sc.  provinciae.  —  procuratoribus :  dative  of  agent;  very  fre- 
quent in  Tacitus;  cf.  14  cui  .  .  .  exercita;  27  emi  sibi;  in  Cicero 
the  dative  is  frequent  with  ptcpp.  and  cpd.  tenses,  and  is  also  used 
with  quae.ro  and  sumo,  etc.,  but  the  idea  of  interest  predominates. 
—  ut  cuique  exercitui:  the  military  provinces  nearest  to  Maure- 
tania,  etc.,  were  Africa,  Upper  Germany,  Pannonia,  Moesia,  re- 
spectively. —  inennes:  the  senatorial  provinces,  except  Africa; 
cf.  on  7  init.  —  cuicumque  =  qualicumque;  cf.  15  fin.  —  exposita: 
silver  Latin  for  obiecta;  cf.  on  2,  30  expositos. —  cessurae:  cf.  70  fin. 
in  cetera  victoriae  praemia  cessuros. — hie  fuit:  the  sentence  re- 
calls the  opening  words  of  chap.  1,  and  thus  effectively  marks  the 
close  of  the  introduction. 

12-20.  The  rebellion  of  the  legions  of  Upper  Germany  leads 
Galba  to  name  a  successor  by  adopting  Piso,  12-19;  financial 
matters,  20. 

12.  Propinquus:  put  to  death  by  Vitellius;  cf.  58.  —  procura- 
toris:  to  be  distinguished  from  the  type  of  procurator  meant  in 
11;  in  such  a  province  as  Gallia  Belgica  the  procurator  simply 
represented  the  imperial  treasury;  cf.  7.  The  two  Germanies 
were  then  administered  less  as  distinct  provinces  than  as  military 
districts  of  Belgic  Gaul;  hence  an  officer  of  the  latter  would  report 
disturbances  in  the  former.  Tacitus'  own  father  had  possibly 
been  procurator  of  Belgica  (Intr.  1).  —  legiones:  cf.  on  9;  16,  18. 
—  rupta:  from  its  use  with/oedus,  ius,  etc.,  the  word  is  extended 
to  such  objects  as  fides,  religio,  reverentia.  —  arbitrium  eligendi: 
the  phrase  has  a  Ciceronian  ring,  while  its  equivalent,  the  one 
word  electio,  would  be  more  Tacitean;  cf.  19  electionem  .  .  .  per- 
miserat.  —  de  adoptione:  for  Galba 's  precedents  in  the  matter,  cf. 
15.  The  same  method  of  choice  gave  the  empire  to  Trajan, 
under  whom  Tacitus  was  writing.  —  menses:  probably  ever  since 
his  arrival  in  Rome,  September  (?),  68;  cf.  iam  pridem  above. — 
licentia  ac  libidine:  may  be  hendiadys  (unbridled  passion},  or  a 
pair  of  synonyms;  the  latter  is  more  characteristic  of  the  early 
writings,  the  former  of  the  Histories  and  Annals;  cf.  1  libidine 
adsentandi;  32  adulandi  licentia.  —  hunc  vel  ilium :  among  others 
named  was  Titus  (2,  1).  —  ambitiosis:  i.e.  self-interest  was  the 
motive  in  their  choice;  cf.  on  83  ambitioso;  on  2,  49  ambitiosis. 


120  NOTES 

—  in  ...  odium:  the  simpler  phrase  Titi  Vini  odio  (abl.  cause) 
has  been  set  aside  for  an  expression  more  novel  and  striking;  cf. 
77  in  solarium,  etc.  Purpose,  direction,  tendency,  result,  destiny, 
may  all  be  indicated  by  in  and  ace.;  here  =  ad  and  gerundive 

(explendum).  —  eodem  actu:  a  mere  substitute  for  tanto  [actus  in 
the  sense  of  impulse,  impetus,  motion  is  rarely  figurative].  —  f  acilitas : 
cf.  6  init.,  49.  —  intendebat  =  augebat,  as  often  in  Tac.;  cf.  24. 

13.  potentia:  cf.  on  1  potentiam.  —  divisa  in:  no  writer  before 
Tacitus  appears  to  use  this  construction  with  persons  in  the  ace., 
except  where  an  apportionment  is  meant;  cf.  3,  58  in  consules 
partitur  (Vitellius). —  Vinium  .  .  .  Laconem:  cf.  6  init.;  asynde- 
ton between  names,  classical  for  colleagues  in  office  only,  is  fre- 
quent in  Tacitus;  cf.  2,  16,  81,  92.  —  anulis:  the  plur.  was  fre- 
quently used  for  the  single  gold  ring  worn  as  a  class  distinction 
by  the  knights;  cf  .2,  57  fin. ;  4,  3;  cf .  the  legal  ius  anulorum.  — rebus 
minoribus:  cf.  7  subitis.  —  circa  =  in  regard  to;  common  in  this 
sense  in  silver  Latin  from  Seneca  on;  cf.  Germ.  28  circa  adfecta- 
tionem  Germanicae  originis.  —  M.  Salvius  Otho:  who  was  to  suc- 
ceed Galba,  —  but  not  by  adoption  (cf.  21  ff.),  —  was  born  in 
32.  His  grandfather,  a  knight,  became  senator  by  the  favor  of 
the  empress  Liyia;  the  father  attained  the  consulship  (33), 
was  proconsul  of  Africa,  and  was  raised  to  patrician  rank  by 
Claudius.  For  Otho's  character,  see  below,  and  2,  50.  —  unum 
aliquem:  as  in  6  fin. — fovebant:  cf.  14  fovebat.  —  transmitten- 
tium:  substantive  use  of  the  ptcp.;  cf.  4  gaudentium,  33  teren- 
tium.  —  vidua:  the  corresponding  feminine  to  caelebs.  —  curam: 
cf.  50  euro  rei  publicae.  —  subisse:  absolute;  cf.  2,  70  quos 
varia  sors  rerum  .  .  .  et  misericordia  subiret;  3,  31  fin.  subit  re- 
cordatio.  The  reference  is  to  Galba.  —  incuriose:  cf.  4,  28  in- 
curiosius  agentes;  not  before  Livy.  —  luxus:  as  usual,  in  the 
worse  sense;  cf.  Ann.  13,  45  iuvenla  et  luxu  (of  Otho).  —  Pop- 
paea:  Nero's  second  wife,  whom  he  married  after  divorcing 
Octavia,  62.  She  was  the  granddaughter  of  C.  Poppaeus  Sabinus, 
cos.  9  A.D.,  a  distinguished  provincial  governor.  Her  father, 
T.  Ollius,  had  been  cut  short  in  his  career  by  Sejanus,  31,  while 
her  mother,  Poppaea  Sabina,  was  forced  to  commit  suicide  in  47. 
She  died  in  65,  by  an  angry  kick  from  Nero;  cf.  Ann.  11,  2;  13, 
45;  16,  6.  —  principale  scortum  =  imperial  mistress.  —  deposuerat: 


BOOK  I  121 

sc.  Nero;  Suetonius  also  uses  the  legal  figure  of  a  depositum 
(Otho  3).  The  narrative  in  Ann.  13,  45  f.  represents  her  as  law- 
fully married  to  Otho.  —  Claudia  Octavia:  she  was  the  daughter 
(b.  42  or  43)  of  Claudius  and  Messalina,  and  sister  of  Britannicus. 
At  the  age  of  eleven  or  twelve  she  married  Nero,  who  was  sixteen 
(53);  but  he  divorced  her  in  62,  banished  her  to  the  island  of 
Pandateria,  and  soon  ordered  her  death.  Her  youthful  inno- 
cence, her  unhappy  life  and  tragic  death  made  her  the  subject  of 
a  tragedy,  Octavia,  which  has  come  down  to  us  with  the  dramas 
of  Seneca;  cf.  Ann.  12,  3,  58;  13,  12;  14,  60,  63  f.  —  Lusitania: 
roughly  speaking,  the  modern  Portugal,  with  the  addition  of 
Estremadura  and  Salamanca.  It  was  usually  governed  by  an 
ex-praetor;  but  Otho  had  not  risen  higher  than  the  quaestorship. 
—  specie  legationis:  since  the  legatus  was  in  reality  a  virtual  exile 
there  for  ten  years  (59-68);  cf.  21  alterius  exilii  honorem.  —  comi- 
ter:  cf.  Agr.  16  comitate  quadam  curandi  provinciam  tenuit;  Suet. 
Otho  3  fin.  says,  moderatione  atque  abstinentia  singulari;  Ann. 
13,  46  fin.  integre  sancteque  egit  [Otho].  —  in  partes:  as  of  Agri- 
cola,  statim  in  partes  [Vespasiani]  transgressus  est  (Agr.  7). — 
donee  =  so  long  as  =  dum  or  quoad,  —  in  prose  a  silver  Latin  use 
of  the  word;  cf.  37  (w.  future);  4,  74  vitia  erunt,  donee  homines 
[erunt];  for  Augustan  poetry,  cf.  Hor.  C.  1,  9,  17;  3,  9,  1. — rapie- 
bat:  as  in  the  phrase  rapere  occasionem  (Hor.  Epod.  13,  3),  or 
rapere  viam.  —  faventibus  .  .  .  prona:  cf.  Intr.  7. 

14.  sed:  reverts  to  12  init.  after  a  digression  on  the  circumstances 
leading  up  to  the  adoption.  —  quonam  =  in  what  direction,  or  per- 
haps better,  to  what  lengths,  how  far.  —  quod  .  .  .  rebatur:  ap- 
positive  relative  clause  with  the  following.  —  remedium:  cf.  20  fin., 
29,  83;  Germ.  16  adversus  casus  ignis  remedium;  the  figure  loses 
itself  in  the  general  meaning  measure  or  resource.  —  comitia:  this 
word  was  used  of  the  election  of  a  consul,  even  after  the  right  of 
election  (on  the  emperor's  nomination)  had  passed  to  the  senate 
in  14  A.D.  —  imperil:  i.e.  of  a  successor;  cf.  4  imperil  arcano. — 
Marius  Celsus:  six  years  before  this  he  had  commanded  a  legion 
(XVth)  from  Pannonia  on  the  eastern  expedition  of  Corbulo; 
chiefly  noted  for  his  loyal  devotion,  first  to  Galba,  and  then  to 
Otho,  whom  he  served  as  general  in  the  campaign  against  Vitel- 
lius;  cf.  esp.  45,  71;  2,  23  ff.,  33,  39  f.,  60;  his  consulship  was 


122  NOTES 

ultimately  the  gift  of  Vitellius  (77),  —  a  part  of  the  year  69.  — 
Ducenius  Geminus:  a  consular  as  early  as  in  62,  but  of  no  histori- 
cal importance.  —  praefecto  urbis:  the  office,  temporarily  revived 
by  Augustus,  was  made  permanent  by  Tiberius;  cf.  Ann.  6,  11; 
Hist.  1,  46;  2,  63.  —  L.  Calpurnius  Piso  Frugi  Licinianus:  a  Piso 
by  adoption,  and  the  son  of  M.  Licinius  Crassus  Frugi,  cos.  27  A.D. 
(himself  a  Piso  by  birth);  his  brothers,  Cn.  Pompeius  Magnus  and 
M.  Licinius  Crassus  Frugi,  were  victims  of  Claudius  and  Nero 
respectively;  cf.  48;  Piso  had  been  long  in  exile  (21,  48).  —  cui: 
for  the  dat.,  cf.  on  11  procuratoribus.  —  apud:  i.e.  they  usually 
met  at  Rubellius'  house.  —  Rubellius  Plautus:  his  father,  C.  Ru- 
bellius  Blandus,  had  married  the  princess  Julia,  daughter  of  Drusus, 
son  of  Tiberius.  As  a  possible  rival,  Nero  had  forced  Plautus  to 
retire  to  Asia,  60  A.D.,  where  he  was  put  to  death  in  62;  Ann.  6, 
27;  14,  22  and  57-59.  —  Scribonia:  she  was  evidently  the  daugh- 
ter of  Pompeia,  and  granddaughter  of  Sextus  Pompey  and  his 
wife,  Scribonia  (niece  of  Augustus'  wife  of  the  same  name).  Both 
of  Piso's  parents  were  victims  of  Claudius.  —  vultu  habituque :  cf. 
17;  2,  52;  habitus  is  not  limited  to  physique,  but  refers  also  to 
bearing,  mien;  or  includes  both.  —  moris  antiqui:  cf.  2,  64  anti- 
qui  moris.  —  severus  .  .  .  tristior:  corresponding,  as  usual,  to  the 
Roman  virtue  of  strictness,  and  its  excess,  severity,  respectively; 
cf.  Agr.  9;  below,  48  severe;  2,  11  severis  ducibus.  —  interpre- 
tantibus:  the  ptcp.  is  used  for  variety  after  the  prepositional 
phrase;  Intr.  13.  —  quo  suspectior:  the  correlative  term  would 
naturally  be  eo  magis  placebat;  but  Tacitus  (in  Hist,  and  Ann. 
only)  uses  great  freedom  in  relaxing  the  formalism  of  these  sym- 
metrical clauses,  omitting  eo,  tanto,  etc.,  and  returning  to  the 
positive  degree;  cf.  12  fin.;  2,  11  quo  plus  virium  .  .  .  tarditas; 
99  quantumque  hebes  .  .  .  tanto  .  .  .  promptior.  The  regular 
correlation  is  found,  but  more  rarely  (e.g.  1,  45;  2,  47),  except 
in  the  minor  works. 

16.  igitur:  this  position  is  regular  with  Sail.,  frequent  in  Livy 
and  Tac.  —  privatus:  in  emphatic  contrast  with  ad  imperium 
vocatum  below.  —  lege  curiata:  adoption  of  an  adult  (adrogatio) 
required  this  ancient  form  of  the  so-called  comitia  curiata,  already 
in  Cicero's  time  a  fictitious  assembly,  consisting  of  one  lictor  for 
each  of  the  thirty  curiae;  but  the  real  functionaries  were  the 


BOOK  I  123 

pontifices.  It  was  by  this  method  that  Augustus  adopted  Agrippa 
Postumus  and  Tiberius.  Galba  omitted  the  shadowy  lex  curiata, 
and,  as  pontifex  maximus,  formally  pronounced  the  adoption  ac- 
complished (cf.  17  f.)-  —  moris  est:  a  favorite  phrase  with  Taci- 
tus; the  gen.  is  possessive;  cf.  Germ.  13,  21;  Agr.  33,  39,  42. — 
egregium  erat:  classical  use  of  the  indie,  in  such  a  phrase,  even 
in  the  unreal  condition;  cf.  16  init.  dignus  eram.  —  in  penates: 
adoption  involved  formal  abandonment  of  the  cult  of  the  one 
family  (sacrorum  detestatio),  in  favor  of  the  household  gods  of 
the  other;  but  Galba  uses  penates  rather  in  the  sense  of  home.  — 
Sulpiciae:  sc.  gentis,  a  rare  ellipsis;  it  is  also  possible  to  supply 
nobilitatis.  He  was  descended  from  the  orator  Ser.  Sulpicius 
Galba,  cos.  144.  —  Lutatiae:  Galba's  mother,  Mummia  Achaica, 
was  the  granddaughter  of  the  celebrated  Q.  Lutatius  Catulus, 
who  completed  the  Capitoline  temple,  69  B.C.  (cf.  3,  72  fin.). — 
adiecisse:  not  different  in  time  from  adsciscere,  above.  —  nunc  = 
as  it  is,  the  return  to  reality;  cf.  16  init.;  37  fin.;  frequent  in 
Livy.  —  maiores:  Galba's  family  was  Caesarian;  Piso's  connec- 
tions were  with  the  party  of  his  great-great-great-grandfather, 
Pompey.  —  sororis:  Octavia.  —  Marcellus:  husband  of  Augustus' 
daughter  Julia,  but  died  23  B.C.,  aged  20.  —  Agrippa:  the  trusty 
general  and  minister  of  Augustus,  second  husband  of  Julia.  He 
was  not  adopted.  —  nepotes:  Gaius  and  Lucius  Caesar,  sons  of 
Agrippa  and  Julia,  adopted  by  Augustus,  17  B.C.  Both  died 
early,  however,  Gaius  in  2  A.D.  at  Massilia,  Lucius  in  4  A.D.  in  Asia. 
—  Tiberius:  son  of  Livia,  the  second  wife  of  Augustus;  adopted 
4  A.D.,  and  made  colleague  (consort)  in  13.  —  non  quia:  the  reason 
stated  for  the  purpose  of  denying  it  requires  the  subjv.,  usually 
with  non  quo  or  non  quod.  —  sit:  the  emphatic  predicate  documen- 
tum  prevails  over  the  plural  subject.  —  et  =  etiam.  —  frater: 
Crassus  Scribonianus;  cf.  47  fin.,  48.  —  fortuna:  cf.  below,  cum 
fortuna  nostra;  1,  10  fin.;  2,  1  med.  —  excusandum  habeas:  in 
golden  Latin  habeas  quod  excuses;  cf.  4,  77;  ger.  or  gerundive 
with  habeo  is  esp.  freq.  in  Dial.,  e.g.  37  dicendum  habeas.  —  ad- 
versam:  his  father  and  mother  had  also  been  put  to  death  by 
Claudius.  —  obsequium  =  servility.  —  blanditia:  the  rare  singular 
abstract,  while  the  plural  is  concrete.  —  et:  inserted  because  the 
third  term  in  the  series  is  modified  by  the  appositive  pessimum 


124  NOTES 

venenum;    cf.   51   fin.  —  utilitas  =  self-interest.  —  quemcum- 
que:   cf.  on  11  fin.  cuicumque. 

16.  dignus  erarn:  cf.  on  15  egregium  erat. — respublica:  in  con- 
trast with  the  empire;    cf.  50.  —  nunc:    cf.  on   15  nunc.  — eo 
necessitatis:     cf.    60    eoque    discordiae.  —  familiae:     the    Julian- 
Claudian  family,  which  treated  the  state  as  a  kind  of  private 
hereditas.  —  fuimus:    Galba  speaks  as  a  citizen,  but  in  eligi  coepi- 
mus  as  emperor  (not  coepti  sumus,  the  classical  usage;    cf.  3,  34 
occidi  coepere;    4,  46  distrahi  coepere).  —  ultra:    i.e.  beyond  the 
fact  of  birth.  —  Vindex:  cf.  on  6.  —  legione:  i.e.  the  VI th  Victrix; 
cf .  on  8  Hispaniae.  —  bello  .  .   .  adsciti:   in  contrast  with  heredi- 
tary   claims,    as    expressed    in    longa     Caesarum    serie.  —  cum 
invidia:    i.e.  there  will  be  no  escape  from  invidia.  —  quamvis  = 
no  matter  how;   cf.  26  fin.,  38.  — fueris  :  for  sis.  —  si:   in  place  of 
the  regular  quod,  in  order  to  weaken  the  disagreeable  statement. 
—  legiones:   at  Mainz;   cf.  18  and  on  9  init.  —  ne  ipse  quidem  = 
I  also  .  .  .  did  not;    cf.  29  fin.  —  temporis    huius:    possess,  gen., 
but  hardly  distinguishable  from  gen.  qual.,  i.e.  opportune.  —  bene: 
modifying  te  elegi  as  a  phrase;   the  point  is  the  excellence  of  the 
choice.  —  dilectus  —modus  deligendi,  i.e.   criterion.  —  regnantur: 
cf.  Intr.  16.  —  et  .  .  .  quidem:    cf.  on  8  init. — faceret:    incom- 
plete action,  in  the  intent  of  Galba,  whereas  the  others  thought 
the  adoption  a,  fait  accompli. 

17.  intuentibus:    dative,  as  also  coniectis  .  .  .  oculis,  though 
on  the  principle  of  rariety  the  latter  might  be  abl.  abs.  —  omnium: 
probably  not  the  great  crowd,  but  those  within  the  palace  who 
first  heard  of  the  adoption.  —  se:   for  ipso;   as  though  Piso  were 
subject.  —  vultu:    cf.  on  14  vultu  habituque.  —  pro  rostris  =  from 
the  rostra;    cf.  29   pro  gradibus.  —  castris:    the  praetorian   camp 
established  by  Tiberius  northeast  of  the  city;    the  site  is  now 
occupied  by  the  garrison  of  the  modern  Rome.  —  quorum  =  et 
(or  nam)  eorum;  hence  the  following  infinitives.  —  ut:   cf.  on  7  ut 
.  .  .  maculosum.  —  male  adquiri:  for  the  emphasis  on  the  adv.  cf. 
16  bene.  —  artes  =  means,  methods.  —  expectatio:  abstract  for  con- 
crete with   a  striking   personification;    Intr.    15.  —  male  =  non 
satis,  parum;  the  usual  weakening  effect  of  male  upon  an  adj.  or 
ptcp.  of  positive  meaning;  cf.  52  male  fidas  provincias;  2,  92  male 
dissimulata  pravitas.  —  supprimentes:  conative;  cf.  9  retinentis. 


BOOK  I  125 

18.  foedum:  as  in  Agr.  12  caelum  .  .  imbribus  .  .  foedum.  —  et 
caelestes  minae:  not  in  addition   to   tonitrua  and  fulgura;   et  is 
epexegetic;    English  commonly  expresses  the  same  relation  by 
simple  apposition;  cf.  on  19ac.  —  observatum:  a  concessive  (or  ad- 
versative) clause  is  here  reduced  to  a  ptcp.  with  its  modifiers.  — 
quo  minus:   for  quin,  as  often  in  Tac.;    cf.  40  fin.;   2,  40,  45.  — 
seu  .  .  .  non  vitantur:    the  briefer  form  of  explanation  by  mere 
apposition  (contemptorem)  is  abruptly  abandoned  in  favor  of  an 
entire  clause;    cf.  on  76  sed  erat.  —  imperatoria  =  soldierly,  not 
imperial.  —  exemplo:    cf.  15  exemplo  divi  Augusti.  —  more  mili- 
tari:   this  cannot  refer  merely  to  an  old  custom  of  levying  troops 
by  cooptation,  but  more  explicitly  to  the  choice  of  an  optio,  e.g. 
by  a  centurion,  to  assist  him  and  to  take  his  place  in  case  of  dis- 
ability;   cf.  25  init.  —  dissimulata :    conditional.  —  in  maius:  this 
phrase  for  exaggeration  was  used  by  Sallust,   repeatedly  by  Taci- 
tus;   cf.  52;  the  underlying  idea  is  result.  —  ultro  =  actually,  i.e. 
he  went  so  far  as  to  say;    cf.  on  7  ultro.  —  legiones:  Tac.  prefers 
this  usage  instead  of  the  more  usual  legio  quarta  et  duoetvicensima ; 
both  are  classical,  however;    cf.  55;   2,  91,  100.  —  in  officio:    cf. 
Ann.  1,  48  maiorem  .  .  .   partem  in  officio  vident;  3,  42  plures  in 
officio  mansere.  —  tanquam:    i.e.  realizing  that,  etc.;  cf.  on  8  tan- 
quam  .  .  .  fovissent.  —  usurpatam:    since  the  accession  of  Clau- 
dius.—  liberalitate :   abstr.  for  concrete  largitione;  cf.  20  liberali- 
tatis;   Intr.  15. 

19.  inde:  ellipsis  is  very  frequent  in  Tacitus  with  such  adverbs; 
cf.  Intr.  24.  —  patrum  favor  aderat:   cf.  17  fin.  circumsteterat  .  .  . 
publica  expectatio.    Tac.  considers  this  an  equivalent  for  patres 
aderant  fautores,  and  proceeds  with  an  appositive  multi,  as  if  he 
had  actually  written  aderant.     For  the  interchange  of  abstract 
with  concrete  cf.  Intr.  15;  cf.  on  29  adfertur  rumor,  etc. — medii  = 
neutral,  indifferent;    cf.  4,  8  fin.  mediis  patrum.  —  ac  =  namely, 
that  is  to  say,  epexegetic;   cf.  25  vulgus  et  ceteros;  89  init.  —  obvio: 
of  that  which  goes  to  meet,  ready,  responsive  (not  trite,  banal).  — 
privatas,  etc. :    cf .  90  fin.  privata  cuique  stimulatio,  etc.  —  quad- 
riduo:    Jan.  11-14  inc.,  neglecting  both  the  day  of  the  adoptio 
and  that  of  the  caedes.  —  et  Piso:    the  proposal  was  to  add  Piso 
to  the  embassy  already  voted  before  his  adoption  (censuerant).  — 
praetextu  =  distinction,  solemnity;   cf.  76  praetexto  senatus.  —  illi : 


126  NOTES 

in  condensing  the  reason  assigned  into  participial  phrases,  Tac. 
assumes  that  his  readers  have  mentally  expanded  et  Piso  into 
non  senatores  solum  sed  etiam  Piso,  and  boldly  proceeds  with  his 
antithesis  (illi  .  .  .  hie)  in  apposition.  —  dignationem  =  dignita- 
tem. —  Caesaris  =  heir-apparent,  crown  prince,  the  usual  title.  — 
placebat:  the  tense  itself  shows  that  the  proposal  came  to  noth- 
ing.—  inconstantia:  i.e.  on  Galba's  part,  while  ambitu  describes 
their  "wire-pulling."  Those  actually  sent  were  recalled  by  Otho; 
cf .  74.  —  aut  .  .  .  vel:  on  the  free  use  of  conjj.  cf.  2,  1  aut  .  .  .  vel. 
20.  proxima:  the  financial  question  had  been  in  Galba's  mind 
for  months,  as  a  problem  second  only  in  importance  to  that  of 
the  succession.  As  Tac.  excluded  the  year  68  from  his  Histories, 
the  subject  is  mentioned  here  only  to  deepen  the  impression  of 
Galba's  growing  unpopularity.  —  bis,  etc.:  i.e.  2200  million 
sesterces  =  circa  115  million  dollars. —  appellari:  they  were  to 
appear  before  the  commission  mentioned  below.  —  relicta:  this 
aoristic  use  of  the  ptcp.,  contemporaneous  with  the  main  verb, 
not  antecedent  to  it,  is  esp.  freq.  both  in  Livy  and  Tac.,  when 
the  abl.  abs.  follows  the  main  verb;  cf.  Intr.  12.  —  super  .  .  . 
erant:  rare  tmesis;  only  here  in  Tac.  —  isdem:  the  absol.  constr. 
gives  the  reason,  i.e.  "having  been  equally  lavish."  —  faeuus: 
here  capital,  not  interest.  —  instrumenta  vitiorum:  as  instrumen- 
tum  belli  is  outfit  for  the  war  (88  sub  fin.),  so  instrumenta  vitiorum 
cover  all  kinds  of  luxurious  appointments  for  the  table  and  other 
indulgences,  including  silverware,  rugs,  costly  slaves,  etc.  The 
attempt  to  convert  these  into  money  all  at  once  would,  of  course, 
greatly  reduce  prices.  —  triginta:  Suet,  makes  it  quinguaginta 
(Galb.  15).  —  ambitu:  i.e.  much  influence  was  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  commissioners  to  favor  this  or  that  person. — numero: 
i.e.  of  those  summoned  to  disgorge  (cf.  ubique),  both  original  recipi- 
ents and  also,  in  many  cases,  others  who  had  come  into  possession. 
—  onerosum:  to  the  commissioners.  —  hasta:  the  place  of  a  public 
auction  was  indicated  by  setting  up  a  spear  (originally  associated 
with  military  booty).  In  Italy  sell  at  auction  is  still  vender -e  all' 
asta.  —  sector :  the  purchasers  of  property  at  public  auctions  were 
a  despised  class,  but  feared  and  hated;  cf.  90  Neronianarum 
sectionum. — actionibus:  litigation  naturally  followed  the  attempt 
to  recover.  —  urbanis:  ranking  below  the  nine  praetorian  cohorts 


BOOK  I  127 

were  the  cohortes  urbanae,  three  in  number  in  the  city  (numbered 
X,  XI,  XII),  under  command  of  the  praefectus  urbi;  cf.  89;  2, 
93;  3,  64.  —  Aemilius  Pacensis:  restored  to  favor  and  promoted 
by  Otho;  cf.  87;  2,  12;  3,  73  (his  death).  —  vigilibus:  the  seven 
cohortes  vigilum,  composed  of  freedmen  and  peregrini,  were  com- 
manded by  the  praefectus  vigilum;  cf.  46,  72;  each  cohort  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  firemen  and  policemen  for  two  "regions" 
of  the  city.  —  Fronto:  appears  again,  2,  26.  —  tanquam:  cf.  on  8 
tanquam  .  .  .  fovissent.  —  per  artem  .  .  .  formidine:  Intr.  13. 

21-49.  Otho  conspires  against  Galba,  who  is  assassinated  in 
the  Forum,  together  with  Piso  and  Vinius,  21-47;  sketches  of 
the  victims,  48-49. 

21.  in  turbido:  cf.  Intr.  13;  more  usually  in  Tac.  such  phrases 
serve  as  predicate,  e.g.  37  in  incerto.  —  inopia:  his  immense  debts 
are  mentioned  also  by  Suet.  Oth.  5  and  Plut.  Galba  21;  nihilque 
referre  ab  hoste  in  acie  an  inforo  sub  creditoribus  caderet  (Suet.  I.e.). 
—  fingebat:  i.e.  in  talking  with  his  friends;  note  the  oratio  obliqua 
following  without  further  introduction;  it  is  not  a  soliloquy.  — 
Lusitaniam:  cf.  above,  13  sub  fin.  —  destinaretur :  cf.  12  destina- 
bant.  —  trucem:  cf.  14  fin.  tristior.  —  exilio:  cf.  48  exul.  —  occidi 
Othonem  posse:  Otho  speaks  of  himself  in  the  third  person  also 
(with  less  vanity)  in  his  last  speeches,  on  the  eve  of  his  suicide, 
2,  47  f.  —  proinde:  in  speeches,  etc.,  especially  of  generals  to  their 
men,  proinde  introduces  the  concluding  summons  to  be  up  and 
doing.  Cf.  56  fin.;  2,  32  fin.  —  agendum:  cf.  Livy  22,  53,  6 
audendum  atque  agendum;  ib.  14,  14;  25,  16,  19  and  23,  15;  26, 
7,  6.  —  fluxa:  sc.  esset;  the  nearness  of  coaluisset  in  the  same 
constr.  justifies  the  omission;  cf.  40  depulsuri  (essent);  79  fin.  felix 
bello  (fuisset) ;  cf.  on  85  ne  ...  silentium.  —  coaluisset:  the  prefix  is 
simply  intensive;  cf.  Sail.  lug.  93,  4  grandis  ilex  coaluerat  inter 
saxa;  Tac.  Hist.  4,  55  coalita  libertate.  —  transitus:  cf.  the  use  of 
transferre  in  25  and  29  (res  sine  discordia  translatas).  —  rerum  = 
power,  as  in  phrase  just  cited.  —  vel  =  aut;  Tac.  uses  great  free- 
dom in  conjunctions;  cf.  on  19  fin. — maneat:  the  only  case  of 
manere  trans,  in  Tac.;  cf.  18  quae  fato  manent.  —  merito  perire: 
the  adverb  has  the  emphasis;  the  phrase  =  mereri  mortem  (cf. 
Germ.  14  fin.  vulnera  mereri),  with  the  thought  that  brave  deeds 
bring  their  fit  reward  in  a  brave  man's  death. 


128  NOTES 

22.  corpori,  etc.:    tanto   Othonis  animo  nequaquam  corpus  aut 
habitus  competit,  Suet.  Oth.  12.  —  et  =  in  addition  (persuasion  of 
others  added  to  his  own  determination).  —  quam  in:    an  innova- 
tion for  quam  pro.  —  luxus:    the  general  idea  is  added  to  the 
specific   (aulam    Neronis);    for  the  plur.  of  the  abstr.  noun  cf. 
libidines   below;    39   fin.   diffugia;  46  latrocinia  et  raptus;  51,   83 
raptus;  2,  12  metus;   76  pavoribus,  etc.  —  matrimonia:    i.e.   rapid 
changes  —  divorces  and  marriages,  after  the  manner  of  Caligula 
and   Claudius.  —  quiescent! :     for  variety   the   conditional   ptcp. 
balances  si  auderet  (absolutely  used;    cf.  concupisceret,  21);    Intr. 
13.  —  aliena:    i.e.  forfeited  to  another,  enjoyed  by  another.  — 
urguentibus:    Intr.  7.  —  mathematicis:    the  Babylonian  astrolo- 
gers, also   known  as    Chaldaei;    cf.  2,  78.  —  dum:    not   merely 
temporal,  but  with  added   notion  of   cause;    cf.  2,  21  dum  .  .  . 
regerunt. — novos  motus:    i.e.   civil    commotions   or    revolutions, 
transitus  rerum,  21;  for  res  novas;  cf.  80.  — vetabitur:  they  were  ex- 
pelled under  Augustus,  Tiberius,  Claudius,  and  Vitellius;    cf.  2, 
62;    Dio  49,  43.  —  et  retinebitur :    a  similar  epigram,  Ann.  12,  52 
de  mathematicis  Italia  pellendis  factum  senatus  consultum  atrox  et 
inritum.  —  secreta:  the  boudoir  of  Poppaea,  including  figuratively 
the  persons  who  gathered  there.  —  Poppaea:  cf .  13.  —  matrimonii: 
i.e.  household,  housekeeping,  but  it  is  hardly  possible  to  render  the 
scorn  with  which  Tac.  implies  that  a  new  empress  brings  such 
worthless  retainers  with  her  into  the  palace.  —  instrumentum  = 
furniture,  —  her  salon  incomplete  without  them;  conversely  honest 
friends  are  the  best  instrumentum  an  emperor  can  have,  4,   7; 
Ann.   12,  66  inter  instrumenta  regni.  —  Othoni:    dative  with  a 
noun  of  agency,  instead  of  genitive  —  a  frequent  Graecism  in 
Tac.  (rare  before  Livy);   cf.  71  (with  duces),  88  (ministros) ;   2,  36 
(rectorem).  —  postquam  .  .  .  fides:    sc.  fuit;    Intr.  24;    cf.  2,  72 
fin.  —  peritia:   Otho  believes  in  the  science  of  Ptolemy.  —  obscura 
=  mysteries.  —  deerat:    a  favorite  word  with  Tac.  —  here  its  mg. 
is  completed  by  a  noun  of  agency  (instinctor) ;    cf.   36  nee  deerat 
.  .  .  adorare;    51  nee  deerat  pars  Galliarum,  etc. 

23.  incertum  an  =  probably  not,  hardly;  in  Cicero  it  would  have 
inclined  to  the  affirmative  side;    cf.  nescio  an.  — repens  =  recens, 
a  Tacitean  use.  —  in  itinere:    the  march  from  Spain  with  Galba; 
to  make  a  more  definite  picture  he  adds  in  agmine,  in  stationibus, 


BOOK  I  129 

referring  respectively  to  daily  marches  and  guard  duty  at  night. 

—  vocansac  .  .  .  appellando:  Intr.  13.  —  Neroniani  comitatus:  Tac. 
forgets  —  or  for  artistic  reasons  ignores  —  the  fact  that  Nero's 
praetorians  remained  at  Rome,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  Galba  with 
his  troops  from  Spain.  —  turbamenta:   very  rare  word,   probably 
coined  by  Sallust;    cf.  hortamenta,  4,  18.  —  lacus:     Avernus  and 
the  Lucrine  Lake  near  Baiae.     The  praetorians  had  accompanied 
Nero  on  such  trips,  as  also  on  his  concert  tours   to  Naples  and 
Greece.  —  spatia:   joined  by  zeugma  to   eniterentur. 

24.  Tigellinus:  C.  Ofonius  Tigellinus  had  succeeded  Burrus  as 
praefectus  praetorio  (in  62),  having  won  the  favor  of  Nero  through 
his  interest  in  the  circus.     He  was  deprived  of  his  post  by  Nym- 
phidius  (cf.  5;  Plut.  Galba  8);  for  his  vicious  character  and  death, 
cf.  72.  —  per  speciem  convivii:   i.e.  as  a  pourboire.     It  was  a  com- 
mon custom  to  give  a  sum  of  money  (sportula)  to  clients,  soldiers, 
etc.,  in  place  of  inviting  them  to  a  dinner.     Maevius  takes  care 
that  the  sportula  shall  be  at  least  three  times  that  doled  out  to 
an  ordinary  client.  —  epularetur:   cf.  on  10  vacaret.  —  intendebat: 
cf.  on  12  fin.  —  speculator!:  picked  men  of  the  praetorians,  form- 
ing a  garde  de  corps,  were  called  speculatores,  and  often  em- 
ployed on  special  duty,  as  couriers,  etc.;   cf.  25,  27,  31,  35;   2,  11, 
33,  73. — praefecti:    Laco;    cf.  13. 

25.  turn:    with  this  the  reader's  attention  is  recalled  to  the 
days  following  the  adoption  of   Piso.  —  tesserarium:  an  under 
officer  whose  duty  it  was  to  procure  from  the  tribune  (or  other 
commander)  the  wooden  tablet   (tessera)  on  which  was  written 
the  watchword  or  other  orders  of  the  commanding  officer.  —  op- 
tionem:    a  centurion  (or,  in  the  cavalry,  a  decurion)  chose  his 
own  assistant  (optio),  who  also  acted  as  a  substitute  in  case  of 
absence;    cf.  on  18  more  militari.  —  perductos:   i.e.  before  Otho. 

—  suscepere  .  .  .  transtulerunt:   note  the  effective  placing  of  the 
verb  —  the  undertaking  and  its  accomplishment  —  at  beginning 
and  end  of  the  sentence;  Intr.  9.     The  change  from  the  -ere  form 
to  that  in  -erunt  is  probably  due  to  the  love  of  variety  and  eu- 
phony.   It  has  been  thought  by  so  methat  Tac.  preferred  -ere  for 
the  hist.  perf.  and  -erunt  for  the  perf.  definite  (cf.  Gild. -Lodge 
131,  4  (b),  5);    but  the  many  instances  of  narrative  -erunt  make 
this   very   doubtful.  —  manipulares:     contemptuous   use   of   the 


130  NOTES 

regular  term  for  privates  (gregarii)  and  officers  of  the  lowest 
ranks  (the  primores  militum  of  the  next  sentence);  cf.  46.  —  per 
beneficia:  connect  with  suspectos;  the  promotions,  etc.,  received 
from  Nymphidius  might  arouse  the  suspicions  of  Galba  and  Piso; 
cf.  5.  —  et  ceteros  =  that  is  (in  other  words),  all  the  rest;  et  is 
explanatory;  cf.  on  19  ac.  —  in  commune:  for  class,  communiter; 
cf.  36  fin.,  85;  2,  54. —  mutandae  militiae:  they  might  be  de- 
graded by  transfer  from  the  praetorian  cohorts  to  the  legions  on 
the  frontier. 

26.  legionum:   strictly  speaking  only  one  entire  legion  (I  Clas- 
sica;  cf.  36)  was  at  Rome  at  the  time,   Galba's  favorite  legion 
of  Spaniards  (VII  Galbiana)  having  been  ordered  away  to  Pan- 
nonia,  perhaps  as  a  demonstration  of  security  on  Galba's  part. 
Other  legions,  however,  were  represented  by  detachments  (vexilla). 
—  postquam:   the  clause  depends  upon  motas,  hence  the  pluperf., 
which  is  not  infrequent  in  Tac.  —  Germanic! :    cf.  12.  —  dissimu- 
latio  =  indifference;    cf.  73  dissimulant is ;  28  fin.  — postero:   the 
14th  Jan.;    the  unusual  reckoning,  as  compared  with  the  normal 
method,  27  init.,  to  avoid  sameness.     For  the  constr.  cf.  postridie 
(pridie)  eius  diei,  and  2,  70  intra  quadragensimum  pugnae  diem.  — 
rapturi  fuerint:    i.e.  in  castra;   the  regular  mood  and  tense  when 
the  conclusion  of  an  unreal  condition  is  itself  a  dependent  clause 
with  ut,  ne,  etc.;    for  rapio  in  this  mg.  cf.  27  fin.,  29.  —  incerta 
noctis;  cf.  on  10  occulta  fati.  —  castra:  for  the  temporary  quarters 
of  troops  in  porticoes,  etc.,  cf.  31.  —  nee:    the  negation  belongs 
to  facilem  alone  (  =  et  hand).  —  cura:  very  loosely  connected  with 
timuissent;    their  fears    (and   consequent  self-control)   were  not 
influenced  by  any  rei  publicae  cura.  —  multa  .  .  .  indicia:   not 
only  on  the  14th,  but  on  the  previous  days  also,  since  the  adop- 
tion.—  elusit:    i.e.  pooh-poohed,    lit.     parried.  —  militarium  ani- 
morum:   i.e.  of  the  soldiers  as  such;   he  appears  to  have  had  no 
military  experience  before  he  became  praefectus  praetorio. 

27.  aede:    the  great  temple  built  by  Augustus  on   the  Pala- 
tine;   dedicated  28  B.C.   (Hor.   C.  1,  31).      It  had   survived   the 
fire  of  Nero,  64,  when  the  adjoining  palace,  the  Domus  Augustana, 
was  destroyed.  —  Umbricius:  cited  by  Pliny  as  the  chief  authority 
in  that  day  on  this  form  of  divination,  the  Etrusca  disciplina; 
N.  H.  10,  19.  —  tristia:    cf.  3  fin.  laeta  tristia,  and  below  laetum. 


BOOK  I  131 

—  domesticum  hostem  =  an  enemy  in  his  own  household;     cf.  3, 
38  in  urbe  ac  sinu  cavendum  hostem.  —  praedicit:    governing  exta 
also,  by  an  easy  zeugma.  — requirentibus :     probably  neither  Tac. 
nor   his   first   readers   concerned   themselves   with   the   question 
whether  this  is   dat.  w.  finxisset   ( =  ficta    respondisset) ,   or  the 
vague  impersonal  abl.  abs.  used  especially  by  Livy;    cf.  85  con- 
versis.  —  sibi:    regular  use   of   dat.  with  pass,   of    emere,  for  the 
person  chiefly  concerned,  i.e.  the  purchaser.  —  praedia  =  a  house; 
in    Roman    law    the    word    comprehends    buildings    as    well  as 
land;   cf.   Suet.  Otho  6   venalem  domum;   for  the  plur.  cf.  2,  29 
tabernacula. — Tiberianam:     Tiberius,    not    satisfied    with    the 
palace  of  Augustus,  had  built  another,  reaching  the  western  edge 
of  the   Palatine.     Only  the  substructions  and  a  long  corridor 
(cryptoporticus)  remain.     Otho  takes  care  not  to  start  at  once  in 
the  direction  of  the  praetorian  camp.  —  Velabrum:  the  busy,  un- 
savory quarter  at  the  foot  of  the  Palatine,  beneath  the  west  front 
of  the  Domus  Tiberiana.  —  miliarium:  the  ideal  central  point  of 
the  entire  system  of  Roman  roads,  erected  by  Augustus,  20  B.C., 
at  the  N.W.  end  of  the  Forum.     The  upper  part  was  of  gilt  bronze, 
inscribed  with  the  names  of  important  cities  in  Italy  and  the 
provinces  with  their  distances  (measured,  however,  from  the  gates 
of  the  "Servian"  Wall,  not  from  the  Golden  Milestone  itself). — 
speculatores:   cf.  on  24.  —  sellae:  a  covered  sedan;  cf.  Suet.  Otho 
6  abditus  propere  in  muliebri  sella. — festinanter  :  they  feared,  per- 
haps, to  give  him  time  to  reconsider.  —  mucronibus:    poetical 
meton.  for  gladiis;  cf.  2,  41;  3,  85.  — miraculo  =  curiosity;   cf.  3. 
25  fin.;    5,  23.  —  clamore  et  gaudiis:   hendiadys,  —  the  species  in 
which  the  second  term  defines  the  first;    et  is   really  epexegetic. 
The  love  of  variety  shows  itself  in  the  change  of  number,  as  also 
in  alii  .  .  .  plerique  .  .  .  pars;     Intr.    13.      Cf.  2,  70  clamore  et 
gaudio.  —  sumpturi:   the  fut.  ptcp.  may  indicate  destiny,  as  well 
as  purpose  and  result;    cf.  32  postulaturis;   78  mansura. 

28.  stationem:  cf.  29;  Martialis  was  in  command  of  the  camp 
at  the  time;  cf.  82. — magnitudine  ...  et  ...  metuens:  abl. 
cause  paired  with  pres.  ptcp.,  cf.  Intr.  13;  2,  9  nutantes  seu  dolo. 

—  an:     cf.   on   7  an.  —  corrupta:    one  clause  of  fearing  is  con- 
densed into  corrupta  latins  castra,  another  into  the  single  word 
exitium.     We  are  left  to  infer  that   Martialis  admitted  Otho's 


132  NOTES 

party  without  delay.  —  praesentia:  symmetry  would  require  the 
addition  of  et  turpia,  but  its  omission  was  probably  deliberate.  — 
pauci,  etc.:  parallelism,  varied  by  chiasmus. 

29.  fatigabat:  a  frequent  use  of  fatigare  =  importune  in  Sail., 
Livy,  and  the  poets.  In  the  hope  of  more  favorable  omens  he 
offered  one  victim  after  another.  —  alieni:  not  only  are  the  gods 
unfavorable,  they  have  already  given  his  throne  to  another;  cf. 
Intr.  27. —  cum  adfertur:  logically  the  main  action  (hence  the 
indie.),  after  the  scene  or  circumstances  have  been  described  by 
an  imperf.  (or  pluperf.)  ind.  This  form  of  narration,  common 
in  all  the  historians,  is  called  cum  inversum;  cf.  43  fin.,  54,  60,  66, 
69;  2,  36,  41,  72.  —  adfertur  rumor:  cf.  on  19  patrum  favor  aderat; 
there  is  in  ut  quisque,  etc.,  a  brusque  transition  from  reports  to  their 
bearers,  so  that  adferunt  is  to  be  supplied  with  alii  and  quidam 
below.  The  picture  of  confusion  is  thus  made  more  vivid.  Cf. 
Intr.  15.  —  incertum  quern  =  nescio  quern  =  quemdam;  cf.  incer- 
tum  quonam  modo,  Ann.  15,  51;  immane  quantum,  Hist.  3,  62 
and  4,  34;  all  consciousness  of  an  indirect  question  is  lost  in  these 
phrases.  —  alii,  etc.:  instead  of  the  symmetrical  alii  ob  formidi- 
nem  maiora,  alii  minora  vero  (sc.  adferunt),  Tac.  increases  the 
flutter  of  excitement  by  the  unexpected  turn  formidine  augentes, 
used  absolutely.  —  igitur:  cf.  on  15  init.  —  integra:  predicate, 
undiminished,  intact.  —  servabatur:  for  reservabatur;  cf.  Intr.  17. 

—  pro:    i.e.  from  the  highest  step;    cf.  17  pro  rostris;    cf.  36  fin. 
and  2,  26  pro  vallo.  —  sextus:    i.e.  Jan.   10-15    incl.  —  et:    the 
following  thought  must  have  formed  itself  in  the  writer's  mind  as 
an   utrum  .  .  .  an   question   depending   on   ignarus,   and   hence 
logically  connected  with  the  preceding  by  et.     As  it  is,  the  de- 
pendent question  has  given  way  to  a  mere  disjunctive  sive  .  .  . 
sive;   and  still  et  is  retained;   it  should  be  omitted  in  translation. 

—  Caesar:    cf.  on  19  Caesaris.  —  quo  .  .  .  fato:    the  incomplete 
indirect  question  is  made  to  modify  adscitus  sum,  and  at  the 
same  time  serves  as  a  subject  to  positum  est.     The  idiom  was 
very  likely  common  in  conversation ;  cf .  2,  76  quam  salutare,  etc. 

—  meo  nomine  =  on  my  account,  from  the  language  of  bookkeep- 
ing.—  paveam:    trans.,  as  in  50,  72.  —  adversas:    cf.  48.  —  cum 
maxime  =  nunc  ipsum;   cum  conjunction  with  maxime  (just  at  the 
time  when  .  .  .)  became  a  mere  adverbial  phrase  =  at  the  (this) 


BOOK  I  133 

moment;  cf.  84. — patris:  gains  added  emphasis  from  the  omis- 
sion of  sed  following  non  quia;  cf.  on  83  nimia  pietas.  —  vicem 
=  nomine,  causa;  used  esp.  with  verbs  of  feeling,  such  as  doleo. — 
proximi  motus:  the  fall  of  Nero  and  rise  of  Galba.  —  incruentam 
urbem:  the  bloodshed  mentioned  in  6  was  as  far  out  as  the  Mil- 
vian  Bridge;  cf.  on  37  in  oculis.  —  translatas:  cf.  21  transitus  rerum. 

—  ne  .   .  .  quidem  =  also  .  .  .  not;   cf.  16,  59  fin.,  83;  2,  15,  44. 

30.  nobilitatis:    best  taken  in  the  ordinary  sense,  noble  birth; 
while  modestiae  suffices  for  moral  character.  — relatu:  a  very  rare 
word,  probably  new  in  the  time  of  Tac.   (as  distinct  from  the 
supine  of   refero);    cf.    Germ.   3.  —  imperatoris:    sc.    Neronis. — 
ageret:    scornfully,  of  the  r61e  of  a  court  favorite;    cf.  2,  83.  — 
mereretur:   deliberative  of  past  time.  —  volvit:  cf.  54  fin.  eadcm 
acrius  volvens;    64  bellum  volvebat;    2,  49  cures  animo  volutantem. 

—  artibus:  cf.  17  per  bonas  artes.  —  vacua  nomina:  in  2,  32  senate 
and  people  are  numquam  obscura  nomina.  —  ne,  etc.:   the  normal 
constr.  would  be  ut  imperatorem  hand  pessimi  faciant;  but  ne  is 
justified  by  the  idea  of  a  negative  wish,  —  an  undesirable  result. 

—  legionum:    Piso  is  made  to  play  upon  the  pride  of  the  prae- 
torians, and  their  contempt  for  the  legionaries.  —  audita  est:    cf. 
76  prior  auditus;    2,  6  auditi  .  .  .   Caesares;    65  audito   Vitellii 
et   Othonis  principatu;    Ann.  2,  68  audita  regis  fuga.  —  et  .  .  . 
quoque:   to  justify  the  preceding  statement,  in  the  face  of  an  ap- 
parent exception.     Tac.  occasionally  adds  quoque  to  et;   cf.  Agr. 
24  et  Gallico  quoque  mari  opportuna.  —  triginta:    in  spite  of  the 
conflict  of  rumors  (cf.  29),  Tac.,  having  given  the  exact  number 
in  27,  allows  himself  the  liberty  of  representing  Piso  as  fully  in- 
formed.—  eligentes:    condensed  condition;    so  also  innocentibus 
below.  —  transcendet:  it  was  convenient  to  forget  the  part  of  the 
Spanish  legions  in  the  accession  of   Galba.  —  pertinebunt:    cf.  89 
ad  rem  publicam  pertinuere.  —  perinde  .  .  .  quam  =  just  as,  pre- 
cisely as;    Tac.    prefers  quam  with  perinde  to  the  older  ac,  atque; 
cf.  2,  27,  35,  39  fin.;    perinde  alone,  2,  68. 

31.  turbidis  rebus  =  riot,  mutiny;    cf.  83  init.;    the  clause,  of 
course,  qualifies  the  following.  —  et  nullo  =  neque  ullo:    Tac.  is 
particularly  fond  of  et  with  a  negation;    e.g.   Dial.   12  et  nullis 
contacta  vitiis;    Germ.  10  et  nullo  mortali  opere  contacti;    Ann.  1, 
38  fin.  et  nihil  ausos;    Hist.  2,  32  ei  ...  non;   ib.  et  nullo;  38  et 


134  NOTES 

nunquam.  —  rapit:  cf.  38  rapta  statim  arma.  —  signa:  each  of  the 
three  maniples  had  its  own  signum.  —  missus  et:  et  must  refer 
back  to  29  consultantibus  placuit,  etc.  Piso  having  discharged 
his  task,  we  come  now  to  those  assigned  to  the  consul  designate 
and  the  rest.  —  Celsus:  cf.  on  14.  —  electos  :  ordered  out  by  Nero 
for  his  eastern  expedition;  cf.  6.  —  Vipsania  in  porticu:  along 
the  east  side  of  the  Via  Lata  (the  Corso).  Begun  by  Agrippa; 
finished,  together  with  the  adjoining  park,  by  Augustus.  —  ten- 
dentes  =  quartered;  no  tents  would  be  needed  in  the  porticus; 
cf.  55,  59  fin.;  2,  66,  93.  —  primipilaribus :  i.e.  retired  first  cen- 
turions; some  continued  in  the  service,  often  with  equestrian 
rank.  —  Germanicos:  v.  below.  —  Libertatis  atrio:  the  head- 
quarters of  the  censors,  and  seat  of  the  first  public  library  in 
Rome,  founded  by  Asinius  Pollio.  Its  site  is  unknown;  probably 
near  the  Fora  of  Julius  and  Augustus.  —  legioni  classicae:  cf.  on 
6  e  dasse.  They  did  not  venture  to  send  any  message  to  these 
troops.  —  caedem:  cf.  on  6  introitus.  —  si  .  .  .  flecteretur:  cf.  3, 
30  iubet,  si  ...  traherentur;  52  explorari  placuit,  si  .  .  .  adi- 
rentur,  —  i.e.  to  see  whether;  not  unclassical.  —  et  necdum  =  nec- 
dum  or  et  nondum;  cf.  on  et  nullo,  above.  —  non  ordine  militiae: 
abl.  cause;  the  corresponding  term  would  be  sed  Galbae  amicitia, 
but  for  Tac.'s  love  of  variety.  The  others  were  simply  perform- 
ing a  military  duty;  Longinus  had  a  further  motive,  and  hence 
was  more  roughly  handled.  —  vexilla:  detachments  and  aux- 
iliary cavalry  carried  a  banner  called  vexillum,  and  the  word 
was  often  applied  to  the  body  of  men;  cf.  6  numeri  =  vexilla 
=  electi;  cf.  also  70  med.  According  to  Suetonius,  none  of 
those  summoned  to  Galba's  aid  obeyed,  except  the  vexillation 
from  Germany,  but  these  troops  lost  their  way  and  came 
too  late  (Galba  20).  —  Alexandriam:  cf.  70.  Along  with  Nero's 
Oriental  projects  there  was  to  be  a  campaign  in  Acthiopia.  — 
inde  rursus:  either  of  these  words  would  have  sufficed;  together 
they  emphasize  the  weary  voyage;  join  with  longa  navigatione. 
—  aegros:  seasickness  had  probably  been  but  one  of  their  mala- 
dies. 

32.  servitiis:  the  word  has  passed  over  from  abstract  to  con- 
crete, the  intermediate  step  (found  even  in  Cic.)  being  the  collec- 
tive, i.e.  slaves  as  a  class;  cf.  servitia  below.  — ludicrum:  on  the 


BOOK  I  135 

sporting  instincts  of  the  Roman  populace,  as  shown  when  the 
troops  of  Vespasian  fought  their  way  into  the  city,  cf .  3,  83.  — 
iudicium:  i.e.  sober  estimate  of  Galba  vs.  Otho.  —  veritas  = 
sincerity.  —  diversa  .  .  .  postulaturis :  viz.  45;  on  the  ptcp.  cf. 
on  27  fin.  sumpturi.  —  pari  certamine:  cf.  57  ingenti  certamine. — 
tradito  more:  the  verb  to  be  supplied  is  fiebat  or  agebatur ;  Intr. 
2G.  For  the  sense  cf.  2,  90  vulgus  .  .  .  sine  falsi  verique  discri- 
mine  solitas  adulationes  edoctum.  —  licentia  adclamationum:  cf.  12 
licentia  .  .  .  loquendi.  —  distinebant:  i.e.  drew  him  in  opposite 
directions.  —  ultro:  cf.  on  7  ultra.  —  ratio  sit  =  should  be  wise; 
cf .  3,  22  ratio  fuit. 

33.  terentium:    cf.  on   13  transmittentium.  —  expectandum  ut: 
the  clause  usually  embodies  a  desired  result.  —  compositis:    cf. 
21  compositis  rebus;    89  res  Caesarum  composuit.  —  prospectante : 
if  Otho  went  to  the  Capitol  to  offer  sacrifice  (cf.  47),  the  greater 
part  of  the  proceedings  could  be  seen  from  the  Domus  Tiberiana. 
—  dum  .  .  .  cludit:    Tac.  often  inserts  a  dum-clause  in  or.  obi. 

with  its  original  mood,  —  one  of  the  means  by  which  he  gives 
such  animation  to  quoted  speeches;  cf.  3,  38  fin.,  70;  Dial.  32  fin. — 
egregius:  the  irony  is  continued  in  fortibus,  nimirum,  praeclarum. 
ianua,  etc. :  i.e.  not  venturing  beyond  his  threshold;  cf .  A gr.  10  litore 
tenus  adcrescere;  Ann.  3,  5  porta  tenus.  —  elanguescat:  cf.  46 
elanguerat;  4,  42  fin.;  much  more  freq.  Tac.  uses  languescere. — 
perinde  =  iuxta  =  equally.  —  vel  =  even.  —  invidiosius:  the  cae- 
des  Galbae  did  inspire  terror  and  odium  towards  Otho;  cf.  2,  31. 

34.  nee:  with  diutius  cunctatus;   cf.  71  nee  Otho,  etc.  —  specio- 
siora:  cf.  57  speciosis  S.P.Q.R.  nominibus;  2,  20  fin.  speciosis  et 
inritis  nominibus;    Ann.  1,  81  fin.  —  praemissus:    Galba  was  to 
go  to  the  camp  later.  —  infensus:    the  sending  of  Piso  would  be 
thought  by  the  praetorians  to  prove  a  decline  in  the  influence  of 
their  bete  noire,  Vinius.  —  irati:    i.e.  esp.  Laco  and  Icelus.  —  et  = 
et  vero  or  et  sane;  cf.  48  et  Claudius,  59;  2,  10  sub  fin.  —  vagus, 
etc. :   cf.   2,    73    vagis   adhuc  et   incertis  auctoribus.  —  ut  in  .  .  . 
mendaciis:  cf.  on  4  ut  erga  principem.  —  inter  gaudentes:  cf.  on  1 
inter  infensos.  —  arbitrabantur :    not  at  the  time,  but  soon  after- 
wards;   in  multi  he  has  in  mind  his  sources. 

35.  plebs:  cf.  4  fin.  plebs  sordida;  82  populus  .  .  .  plebs;  36. — 
in  plausus:    the  verb  is  found  in  mere  in  the  figurative  sense 


136  NOTES 

(burst  out},  while  the  lit.  sense  is  required  with  intus.  —  plerique: 
cf.  on  5  plerisque.  —  intus:  here  used  for  intro;  confusion  of  the 
two  words  was  reckoned  a  solecism  by  Quintilian  (1,  5,  50),  but, 
if  the  text  is  sound,  Tac.  thought  better  of  popular  usage.  — 
ausurus:  cf.  on  27  fin.  sumpturi.  —  nimii  verbis:  sc.  esse;  cf.  3, 
75  sermonis  nimius.  The  plural  after  quisque  and  a  superl.  is  not 
rare;  cf.  2,  66  fin.,  84  fin.  —  thorace:  danger  apart,  Galba  would 
have  donned  the  thorax  ( =  lorica)  in  any  case,  to  appear  before 
the  praetorians.  —  insigni  animo:  the  abl.  qual.  is  particularized 
in  the  following  adjj. — minantibus:  dat.,  while  its  counterpart 
is  a  prep,  phrase;  cf.  Intr.  13.  —  incorruptus  =  incorruptible;  cf. 
Ann.  3,  75  incorrupta  libertate;  Agr.  22  incorruptum  .  .  .  testem. 

36.  agmine  et  corporibus:    abl.  with  contenti;    the  whole  idea 
that  they  bore  him  on  their  shoulders  in  procession  is  condensed 
into  three  words.    Cf.  Suet.  Otho  6  succollatus  et  .  .  .  imperator 
consalutatus ,    inter  faustas    adclamationes   strictosque    gladios    ad 
principia   devenit.  —  in    suggestu :    cf.    55   fin.   suggestu   locutus; 
Ann.    1,    44    reus    in   suggestu  .  .  .  ostendebatur.  —  signa:     each 
praetorian  cohort  had  its   own  standard.  —  vexillis:  the  specula- 
tores  (cf .  27)  are  represented  by  their  vexilla  (cf.  on  31  vexilla).  — 
populo  ac  plebe:    cf.  35,  40.  —  variis:    i.e.  lacking  in  uniformity, 

—  no  common  spirit.  —  segni  adulatione:    abl.  cause  with  variis. 

—  armis:    probably  from  armi  rather  than  arma;    cf.  Verg.  Aen. 
12,  433.     Most  of    the  soldiers  were   at    the    moment   without 
weapons  (cf.  38  fin.);   yet  the  speculatores  of  27  were  armed,  and 
were,  no  doubt,  the  most  conspicuous  now.  —  praeire:    usually, 
of  the  officer  who  dictates  the  formula  for  the  soldiers  to  repeat; 
cf.  2,  74  praeeuntem   sacramentum;     Plin.  Ep.  10,  52    praeivimus 
et  commilitonibus  ius  iurandum.  —  deerat:   cf.  on  22  fin.  —  omnia 
serviliter:  an  adverb,  adverbial  phrase,  etc.,  may  suggest  an  unex- 
pressed verb;   cf.  on  65  crebrius  infestiusque ;  52  plura  ambitione; 
Intr.  26.  —  classicorum :  they  had  joined  the  praetorians  without 
delay,  31.  —  accepit:  the  actual  taking  of  the  oath  is  meant;  cf. 
2,  6.  —  singulos  ...  in  commune:   chiasmus;    for  in  commune, 
cf.  on  25  fin.  —  pro  vallo:   he  has  left  the  tribunal,  to  take  his 
place  on  the  wall;  cf.  29  pro  gradibus;   2,  26  pro  vallo. 

37.  quis  =  in    what    capacity,    under    what    title.  —  sustineo  = 
bear,  bring  myself  to;    cf .  Dial.  26  neminem  .  .  .  nominare  .  .  . 


BOOK  I  137 

sustinuit.  —  in  incerto:  cf.  47  in  incerto  fuit;  2,  33  fin.  in  incerto 
reliquerat;  45  in  ambiguo  (also  Agr.  5);  frequent  in  Livy  (in 
dubio,  in  facili,  etc.)-  —  auditisne:  imagined  hearing,  of  course; 
no  such  cries  in  or  about  the  Forum  could  be  distinctly  heard  at 
the  camp  (1£  miles  away).  —  ut:  this  interrog.  clause  is  more 
freq.  after  video.  —  poena  mea:  cf.  32  caedem  Othonis.  —  cuius 
lenitatis  est  =  qua  lenitate  est,  ironical;  cf.  2,  37  qua  prudentia 
fuit.  —  tot  milia:  cf.  on  6  introitus;  Otho  naturally  exaggerates 
the  numbers.  —  feralem  =  ghastly;  applied  in  various  senses  to 
anything  connected  with  death.  —  in  oculis  =  in  conspectu;  cf. 
2,  35  fin.;  50  fin.  ex  oculis  =  e  conspectu.  The  Milvian  Bridge 
(87)  is  more  than  2J  miles  from  the  Capitol.  —  Obultronius: 
aerarii  quaestor  in  56;  cf.  Ann.  13,  28.  —  L.  Cornelius  Marcellus: 
probably  commander  of  a  legion  in  Spain,  previously  procos.  of 
Sicily  (CIL.  X,  7192).  —  Betuus:  unknown.  —  Fonteius  Capito: 
cf.  on  7,  where  Macer  is  also  mentioned;  cf.  11.  —  Cingonius, 
Turpilianus:  cf.  on  6.  —  Nymphidius:  cf.  on  5.  —  remedia:  cf.Ann. 

1,  49   non   medicinam   illud  .  .  .  sed   cladem   appellans.  —  falsis 
nominibus:  cf.  Agr.  30  fin.  auferre,  trucidare,  rapere,  falsis  nomini- 
bus  imperium  .  .  .  appellant.  —  severitatem  =  strictness;  cf.  on  14. 
—  saevitia  =  severity.  —  septem :  from  June  9, 68.  —  Icelus :  cf .  13.  — 
Polycliti,  etc.:    typical  plural,  —  a  Polyclitus,  or  the  Polycliti;  cf. 

2,  95.     A  freedman  of  great  influence,  Polyclitus  was   sent  by 
Nero  to  Britain  with  extraordinary  powers  after  the  revolt  of 
Boadicea,  in  61;    Ann.  14,  39;  put  to  death  by  Galba.  —  Vatinius: 
a  buffoon  from  Beneventum,  who  gained  great  power  over  Nero. 
Tac.  reckons  him  as  one  of  the  foedissima  ostenta    of  the  court 
(Ann.    15,   34).  —  Aegialus:     not  mentioned  elsewhere.  —  perdi- 
derunt  =  squandered;    cf.  30  perdere  iste  sciet.  —  nunc:    cf.  on  15 
nunc.  —  una  ilia  domus:   sc.   T.  Vinii;  others  understand  Icelus' 
house  to  be  meant;   but  the  thrust  at  Vinius  is  no  mere  parenthe- 
sis. —  exprobratur  =  obicitur;    Galba  had  made  their  requests  a 
matter  for  reproach;    cf.  5  fin. 

38.  ab  exilio:  cf.  48,  21.  —  tristitia:  cf.  14  fin.  tristior;  the 
quality  meant  is  an  exaggeration  of  severitas  (cf.  on  37),  showing 
itself  in  a  man's  whole  bearing.  —  tempestate:  cf.  18  imbribus 
.  .  .  tonitrua,  etc.  —  voco:  cf.  2,  76  ad  imperium  voco. — 
omnium:  Otho  omits  to  make  exception  of  the  legions  on  the 


138  NOTES 

Rhine,  the  news  of  whose  uprising  under  Vitellius  was  being 
suppressed  as  far  as  possible  by  Galba;  cf.  50.  —  nee  .  .  .  de- 
fendit  =  et  .  .  .  hand  defendit.  —  una  cohors:  cf.  29,  31. — 
togata:  i.e.  without  armor,  as  the  praetorians  did  not  actually 
wear  the  toga.  —  detinet:  implying  that  otherwise  Galba  would 
flee.  —  signum  =  watchword,  given  out  by  the  imperator  to  the 
tribune  commanding  the  cohort  on  guard;  cf.  Ann.  1,  7  signum 
praetoriis  cohortibus  ut  imperator  dederat  (sc.  Tiberius);  Nero's 
first  signum  was  Optima  mater,  ib.  13,  2.  —  mihi  plurimum  in- 
putet  =  shall  lay  me  under  the  greatest  obligation;  lit.  set  down 
the  highest  charge  against  me;  cf.  55  fin.,  71;  2,  60,  85. —  perac- 
tum:  cf.  Intr.  27.  —  armamentarium:  for  the  arsenal  in  the  prae- 
torian camp  cf.  80.  The  tombstone  of  its  architect  (temp.  Ves- 
pas.,  Domit.)  has  been  found  near  Rome;  OIL.  VI,  2725.  —  ut 
.  .  .  distingueretur:  the  clause  expands  and  explains  more  et 
ordine  militiae;  cf .  on  2,  23  ne  ...  tolerarent.  —  insignibus  = 
emblems,  designations  (on  the  armor).  —  miscentur:  i.e.  armed 
themselves  indiscriminately;  the  arsenal  contained  weapons  and 
armor  for  all  kinds  of  troops;  some  contented  themselves  with 
the  accouterments  of  auxiliaries. 

39.  in  urbem  usque:  the  camp  (cf.  17)  was  separated  from  the 
"Servian"  Wall  and  Agger  by  an  open  campus,  the  distance  from 
the  porta  praetoria  of  the  camp  to  the  Porta  Viminalis  of  the  city 
being  less  than  one  third  of  a  mile.  Piso  may  have  gone  as  far 
as  the  city  gate  (cf.  34).  —  adsecutus  erat:  perhaps  near  the 
temple  of  Vesta;  cf.  2,  65  adsequitur. — rettulerat:  from  the 
troops  at  the  Porticus  Vipsania;  cf.  31. — redire  .  .  .  petere: 
for  the  usual  uf-clause;  an  infin.  constr.  with  censere  is  found  also 
in  Sail,  and  Livy;  cf.  lug.  21,  4  velle  et  censere  eos  ab  armis  dis- 
cedere;  Livy  21,  20,  4  censere  .  .  .  ipsos  id  avertere  in  se,  etc.; 
45, 16, 1  censuere  .  .  .fieri.  .  .  et M acedoniam Illyricumque eosdem 
.  .  .  obtinere.  With  the  passive  also;  cf.  2,  10  dari  .  .  .  censebant. 
—  plerique:  cf.  on  5  plerisque.  —  rostra:  in  front  of  the  Temple  of 
Concord.  —  occupanda:  by  its  derivation  the  word  retains  the 
thought  of  a  rival  or  enemy,  to  be  outwitted  or  anticipated  by 
prompt  action;  so  in  56  occupari  .  .  .  fortunam;  62  occupan- 
dam  urbem;  84  nationes  .  .  .  occupavit.  —  plures  =  Ciceronian 
plerique;  cf.  41,  52.  —  Laco:  cf.  13.  —  initio  .  .  .  orto:  even 


BOOK  I  139 

Tac.  employs  this  pleonasm,  common  everywhere  in  Latin;  cf.  2, 
79  initium  .  .  .  coeptum.  —  diffugia:  plur.  abstract;  cf.  trans- 
fugia,  2,  34;  effugia,  Ann.  3,  42,  etc.  No  other  extant  writer  uses 
diffugia.  Cf.  on  22  luxus.  —  alacres:  cf.  35. 

40.  agebatur:    in  his  sella,  35;    he  is  now  in  the  Forum. — 
basilicis:    on  the  right  (N.)  the  Basilica  Aemilia,  on  the  left  the 
Basilica  lulia,  begun   by  Julius  Caesar.     These  great  buildings, 
divided  by  rows  of  columns  or  pillars  into  aisles  (five  in  number 
in  the  case  of  the  lulia),  served  at  the  same  time  the  purposes 
of  law  courts,  exchanges,  and  public  lounging  places.     From  their 
second  stories  (over  the  side  aisles  and  porches)  they  commanded 
a  view  of  the  open  area  of  the  Forum.  —  templis:   of  Castor  and 
Pollux,  Saturn,  Concord,  the  Curia.  —  prospectu:    i.e.  the  scene 
upon  which  they  looked  down.  —  plebis:    cf.  35  init.  —  vox  .  .  . 
aures  .  .  .  tumultus:  for  the  style  of  this  description  cf.  Intr.  23. 
—  quale,  etc.:    i.e.  tale  silentium,  quale.  —  occupare  =  anticipate, 

forestall;  cf.  on  39  occupanda.  —  Vologaesus  I:  (generally  Volo- 
gaeses  in  Arm.),  king  of  Parthia  in  Claudius'  and  Nero's  time,  and 
through  most  of  Vespasian's  reign;  Ann.  12,  14  fin.,  etc.  —  Pa- 
c6rus:  brother  of  Vologaesus,  and  viceroy  of  Media;  Ann.  15,  2, 
14.  —  depulsuri:  sc.  essent;  cf.  on  21  fluxa. — rapid!  =  raptim 
vecti;  cf.  2,  40  citus  equo;  only  a  part  of  the  praetorians  were 
mounted.  —  irrumpunt:  with  the  constr.  of  invadunt;  cf.  61,  82; 
they  had  probably  come  by  the  Vicus  Patricius  from  the  Porta 
Viminalis,  entering  the  Forum  by  the  Argiletum,  between  the 
Curia  and  the  Basilica  Aemilia;  Plut.  Galba  26.  —  templorum: 
here  including  those  on  the  Capitoline  also.  —  rejigio  =  sanctity; 
cf.  43.  —  terruere:  with  the  const,  of  deterruere;  cf.  2,  63.  —  quo 
minus:  cf.  on  18  quo  minus.  —  ultor:  cf.  44  fin. 

41.  comminus  =  approaching;    adv.    with    the    force    of    adj. 
or  ptcp. ;  cf .  comminus  pugnam,  Ann.  2,  20;  comminus  captivitate 
(i.e.   impending),    Germ.   8.  —  vexillarius  =  signifer;    for  signum 
and  vexillum  are  often  interchangeable;    cf.  44  inter  signa  cohor- 
tium.  —  cohortis:    cf.  29.  —  imaginem:    a  medallion,  probably  of 
gold,  attached  to  the  shaft  in  the  midst  of  the  (horizontal)  wreaths, 
and  other  emblems,  which  had  been  presented  to  this  cohort.  — 
Curtii  lacum:    a  celebrated  spot,  near  the  center  of  the  Forum, 
connected  by  different  legends  with  Mettius  Curtius^the  Sabine 


140  NOTES 

king  (Livy  1,  13),  and  with  the  youth  M.  Curtius  who  leaped  into 
a  chasm,  which  thereupon  closed  over  him  (id.  7,  6).  It  was 
entirely  dry  in  the  time  of  Augustus  (Ovid,  F.  6,  403).  The  exist- 
ing remains,  found  in  1904,  consist  chiefly  of  an  irregular  in- 
closure,  ca.  10  X  6  metres,  containing  a  dodecagonal  base,  etc.  — 
ferentium:  subst.  use  of  the  ptcp.,  esp.  freq.  for  a  noun  of  agency, 
even  in  the  Dial.;  e.g.  6  dicentium  =  oratorum;  ib.  orantibus  = 
oratoribus;  41  medentis  =  medici;  ib.  cognoscentis  =  iudicis.  — 
mail  =  crime  (not  its  punishment).  —  meruisset  =  fecisset,  or 
commisisset,  as  in  4,  72.  —  deprecatum :  stronger  than  precatum; 
on  the  "aoristic"  use  of  ptcp.  cf.  Intr.  12;  cf.  Ann.  11,  35  non 
moras  temptavit,  precatus  ut  mors  acceleraretur .  — agerent:  i.e.  hoc 
agerent  (as  in  Suet.  Galba  20),  from  the  sacrificial  formula  (hoc 
age),  which  called  attention  to  the  beginning  of  the  ceremonies. 
—  evocatum:  i.e.  he  had  completed  his  term  in  the  ranks,  and 
now  enjoyed  the  special  favors  of  the  evocati,  who  served  as  volun- 
teers, employed  mainly  in  civil  functions.  Galba  also  gave  this 
name  to  a  bodyguard  of  knights;  Suet.  Galba,  10.  —  quintae 
decumae:  cf.  on  9  legiones.  —  hausisse  =  perfodisse:  used  by 
soldiers  when  a  man  was  killed  by  a  side-thrust  (Serv.  on  Aen. 
10,  314);  but  the  historians  and  poets  in  thus  using  the  word, 
no  doubt  consciously  imitated  Homer's  8ia,<p6<r<ru  (e.g.  II.  13, 
507  f.).  Cf.  Lucr.  5,  1324;  Ov.  Met.  5,  126  latus  hausit;  Liv.  7, 
10,  10;  Claud.  Quad.  op.  Gell.  9,  13,  17. —  tegebatur:  sc.  thorace,  35. 
42.  et  ipso:  simply  also  (with  reference  to  41  varie  prodidere, 
to  non  satis  constat,  etc.).  This  use  of  et  ipse  =  he  also,  very 
rare  in  Cic.,  is  lacking  in  Caes.  and  Sail.,  freq.  in  Livy,  seldom  in 
Tac.;  cf.  2,  33  fin.  —  conscientiam :  i.e.  to  claim  knowledge  of 
Otho's  instructions  was  to  inculpate  himself.  Trustworthy  ac- 
counts of  Vinius'  conduct  during  the  final  scene  were  lacking. 
If  he  was  privy  to  the  conspiracy,  Tac.  lets  him  overdo  the  part 
of  Galba's  friend,  to  the  complete  neglect  of  his  own  safety.  — 
hue:  cf.  Ann.  14,  2  fama  hue  inclinat.  —  ut  .  .  .  fuerit:  the 
supposition  takes  the  form  of  a  subst.  clause  in  apposition  with 
hue.  Similar  brachylogy  is  not  rare  even  in  Cic.;  cf.  Leg.  2, 
11;  Fin.  1,  14;  N.  D.  1,  21.  — aedem:  the  Temple  of  the  Divus 
lulius  was  built  by  Augustus  at  the  east  end  of  the  Forum,  on 
the  spot  where  Julius  had  erected  new  rostra,  and  where  his  body 


BOOK  I  141 

was  burned.  The  foundation  remains.  —  iacuit  =  cecidit.  —  in 
poplitem:  by  zeugma  with  transverberatus. 

43.  insignem  .  .   .  virum:     cf.    Aen.    1,    10    insignem    pietate 
virum.  —  Sempronius:    in   Plutarch   (Galba  26)  and  Dio   (64,  6) 
he  loses  his  life  while  protecting  Galba.  —  custodiae:  for  his  pro- 
jected visit  to  the  camp. —  exprobrans  ac  .  .  .  vertendo:  cf.  Intr. 
13.  —  quanquam:    used  like  quamvis  with  a  ptcp.;    cf.  60  fin., 
63,  76;    2,  15,  72,  86.  —  aedem  Vestae:    a  circular  temple,  close 
to  the  Aedes  Divi  lulii  and  the  Castor  temple;    the  remains  are 
insignificant.  —  public!:    the  sacristan,  or  aedituus,  was  a  slave  of 
the  state.  —  contubernio:    cf.   3,   74;    the  house  of  the  aedituus 
must  have  adjoined  the  Atrium  Vestae,  or  palace  of  the  Vestals; 
there  could  be  no  concealment  within  the  temple.  —  caerimoniis: 
(i.e.  loci)  =  hallowed  character,  syn.  with  religione;  cf.  40  fin.;    of 
a  spring,  potus  sacros  et  caerimoniam  loci,  Ann.  14,  22  fin.  —  cum 
advenere:    cf.  on  29  init.  —  nominatim:    explained  by  44  init. — 
Britannjcis:    cf.  6  numeri  e  .  .  .   Britannia. 

44.  levata  =  freed,  relieved.  —  vacare  gaudio:    not  merely  have 
time  to  rejoice,  but  give  itself  wholly  to  rejoicing.  —  recordatio  .  .  . 
confuderat:    this  stands  logically  in  a  concessive  or  adversative 
relation  to   Pisonis  .  .  .  credebat,  but  the  members  are  merely 
coordinated. — imagine:    i.e.   associations.  —  legionis:    sc.  classi- 
cae,  cf.  31  and  36.  —  qui  interf uerant :    they  had  taken  pains  to 
stain  their  hands  too.  —  iactabant:    sc.  caedem;    cf.  51  iactabant. 

—  libellos  =  petitions. — postea:  after  the  short  reign  of  Otho. 
—  honori:  instead  of  ad  honorem;  cf.  Ann.  2,  7  fin.  honori  patris; 
also  with  dare,  cf .  77  honori  datum.  —  munimentum  .  .  .  ul- 
tionem:  explanatory  apposition  to  the  sentence,  —  regularly  ace. 
when  the  verb  denotes  activity.  The  purpose,  or  result,  is  then 
briefly  expressed  by  mere  apposition,  or  the  writer  adds  in  this 
form  his  own  comment;  cf.  46  fin.  rem  .  .  .  utilem;  72  effugium 
in  futurum,  3,  31  extremum  malorum;  4,  19  causam  seditioni; 
Ann.  1,  27.  Note  in  the  present  case  the  chiasmus  and  variety 
in  prepositions;  cf.  Intr.  8,  13.  —  ad  praesens:  cf.  85  init.  ad 
praesens.  —  in  posterum:  in  case  of  their  own  assassination  their 
successors  would  maintain  the  tradition  of  vengeance;  cf.  40  fin. 

45.  alium:     cf.    2,   90   alterius     civitatis   senatum    populumque; 
Plut.    Galba   28   Ka.66.irep  &\\oi    ycyovbres.  —  crederes:     cf.    on    10 


142  NOTES 

laudares. — proximos:  the  ace.  has  become  the  usual  constr. 
with  anteire  in  Tac.;  cf.  87  fin.;  on  2,  3  stirpem;  2,  5,  30.  —  exos- 
culari:  this  silver  Latin  cpd.  has  the  mg.  of  an  intensive;  cf.  2, 
49  exosculantes. — falsa:  cf.  19  effusius  qui  noluerant.  —  avidum: 
in  what  direction,  is  shown  by  praedarum  iniiium  below.  —  tem- 
perans:  conative,  cf.  9  retinentis.  —  Celsus:  cf.  31,  39.  —  artibus 
=  qualities,  as  in  10  malis  bonisque  artibus.  — iubere:  sc.  scelus. 
—  iussum:  translate  having  ordered,  etc.;  not  depending  upon  ad- 
firmans.  —  et:  connecting  iussum  with  adfirmans,  in  spite  of  the 
difference  of  voice  and  agreement,  —  a  freedom  borrowed  from 
the  Greek;  not  rare  in  Livy;  cf.  Ann.  3,  11  (-que);  Intr.  13.  — 
exitio  subtraxit:  he  was  later  pardoned  by  Otho;  cf.  71. 

46.  deinde  =  from  this  time  on.  —  Plotius  Firmus:  cf.  82;  he 
appears  again  as  a  devoted  friend  of  Otho,  at  the  latter's  death, 
2,  46,  49. — manipularibus :  cf.  on  25  manipulares.  —  vigilibus: 
cf.  on  20  fin.  vigilibus.  —  Licinius  Proculus:  cf.  82,  87;  2,  33,  39  f., 
44,  60. — fovisse:  cf.  4,  34  fin.  suspectus  bellum  matte;  Ann.  2, 
57  dissentire  manifestus;  a  usage  borrowed  from  the  poets.  — 
Flavius  Sabinus:  elder  brother  of  Vespasian  (cf.  on  10),  with 
whom  he  served  in  the  conquest  of  Britain;  governor  of  Moesia, 
prefect  under  Nero;  cf.  2,  55,  63,  99;  3,  59  et  passim,  esp.  75 
(his  necrology).  —  vacationes:  here  by  meton.  the  sum  paid  for 
exemption  from  duty  (vacationes  munerum).  It  was  an  old  abuse; 
cf.  Ann.  1,  17,  35.  —  pendebat:  sc.  vacationes.  —  dum  =  dum- 
modo.  —  genus  quaestus:  explained  by  latrocinia,  etc.  —  pensi  = 
importance,  consideration  (lit.  weight);  gen.  of  price,  as  Dial.  29 
pensi  habet,  and  Val.  Max.  2,  9,  3  nee  pensi  duxerat;  cf.  Ann.  13, 
15;  developed  out  of  the  partitive  use  of  pensi  with  nihil  and 
quicquam  in  Sail,  and  Livy.  —  latrocinia  et  raptus:  for  the  pair 
of  synonyms,  cf.  Intr.  14;  for  the  plur.  abstract,  cf.  on  22  luxus. 
turn  =  ad  hoc  =  moreover.  —  fatigari:  here  the  hist.  inf.  standing 
alone;  cf.  50  maerere;  52  instigare;  2,  11  fin.  ire;  19  laudari; 
23  fin.  miscere  cuncta.  —  elanguerat:  cf.  33  elanguescat.  —  bella 
civilia  :  the  force  of  ad  (with  seditiones)  is  still  felt ;  cf.  on  4 
legiones.  —  vulgi:  obj.  gen.;  cf.  on  2,  72  veri.  —  fiscum:  as 
distinguished  from  the  senatorial  treasury,  aerarium,  the  im- 
perial treasury  was  called  fiscus.  It  was  charged  with  the  main- 
tenance of  the  army,  the  military  provinces,  etc.  —  annuas:  i.e. 

~  - 


BOOK  I  143 

the  centurions  annually  received  from  the  fiscus  a  fixed  sum,  in 
place  of  the  pretia  vacationum.  —  rem:  for  the  apposition  cf.  on 
44  munimentum.  —  principibus:  also  by  Vitellius,  58  init. — 
Laco:  cf.  13.  —  praefectus:  in  contrast  with  in  libertum  below^ 
—  tanquam:  i.e.  he  and  others  were  given  to  understand  that  he 
was  to  be  imprisoned  on  an  island  (cf.  2  plenum  exiliis  mare). 
Grammatically  this  clause  should  depend  on  a  perf.  ptcp.,  e.g. 
amotus  (cf.  Ann.  16,  9  tamquam  Naxum  deveheretur,  Ostiam 
amotus);  but  such  a  word  is  merely  implied  in  the  prae  of  prae- 
miserat.  —  confossus:  at  the  island.  —  libertum:  now  a  f reed- 
man  of  Otho,  as  successor  to  Galba;  for  the  liberti  Caesaris,  cf. 
37,  58;  2,  92  fin.,  94,  etc.  —  animadversum :  i.e.  he  was  tortured 
and  crucified;  cf.  on  2,  72  fin.;  4,  11  fin.  The  place  of  execution 
was  a  building  (Sessorium)  to  the  east  of  the  Esquiline.  It  was 
later  inclosed  in  an  angle  of  the  Wall  of  Aurelian,  at  S.  Croce  in 
Gcrusalemme;  cf.  Plut.  Galba  28  fin.;  Ann.  15,  60;  2,  32  fin. 

47.  vocat:  by  their  position  the  verbs  of  this  passage  em- 
phasize the  indecent  haste.  —  praetor  urbanus:  both  consuls 
being  dead,  the  duty  devolved  more  maiorum  upon  the  praetor 
urbanus.  —  Augusti:  most  conspicuous  of  the  imperial  titles,  first 
given  to  Octavian  in  27  B.C.  Vitellius  accepted  it  reluctantly,  2, 
90  fin.  —  honores:  the  titles  imperator  and  Caesar,  the  office  of 
pontifex  maximus,  etc.  The  consulship  also  was  of  course  awarded 
to  Otho,  an  office  upon  which  he  entered  Jan.  26,  with  his  brother 
as  colleague;  cf.  77.  —  sensit:  Tac.  does  not  doubt  that  Otho 
remembered  the  convicia,  but  no  one  suffered  the  consequences 
(sensit).  —  in  incerto:  cf.  on  37  in  incerto ;  Ann.  6,  45  omiserit 
receperitve,  in  incerto  fuit  ob  propinquum  vitae  finem.  —  in  Capi- 
tolium:  in  order  to  make  a  thank-offering.  —  concedi  .  .  .  per- 
misit:  silver  Latin  constr.;  cf.  Ann.  14,  12  cineres  reportari  se- 
pulcrumque  exstrui  permisit;  Hist.  4,  22  rapi  permisere;  so  with 
oro,  impetro,  etc.,  Ann.  11,  10  fin.  permitti  .  .  .  orabant;  12,  27 
deduci  impetrat.  The  tautology  may  be  reproduced  from  the 
official  language  of  the  acta  diurna.  —  Verania:  daughter  of  a 
governor  of  Britain,  Q.  Veranius,  cos.  49.  An  anecdote  about 
her  is  told  by  Pliny,  Ep.  2,  20.  Her  epitaph  (with  her  hus- 
band's) was  found  some  years  ago  near  the  Via  Salaria  (Bull. 
Com.  XIII,  1885,  p.  102;  CIL.  VI,  31723).  —  Scribonianus: 


144  NOTES 

Crassus  Scribonianus,  cf.  15  est  tibi  frater.  There  was  also  a 
sister,  Licinia  Magna,  wife  of  another  Piso  (L.).  —  Crispina:  cf. 
13  vidua  filia;  72  servatam  ab  eo  filiam. 

48.  explebat  =  had  not  yet  completed;  cf.  3,  86;  usually 
agebat.  —  Magnus:  Cn.  Pompeius  Magnus,  had  married  Claudius' 
daughter  Antonia;  was  with  the  emperor  in  Britain,  but  put  to 
death  ca.  47  with  his  parents;  cf.  on  14;  Suet.  Claud.  27,  29; 
Sen.  Apoc.  11,  2,  5.  —  Crassus:  M.  Licinius  Crassus  Frugi,  cos. 
ord.  64;  accused  by  the  notorious  Regulus  and  put  to  death;  cf. 
4,  42;  Plin.  Ep.  1,  5,  3.  —  interf ecerant :  instead  of  the  sing, 
required  by  class,  usage  for  the  independent,  or  contrasted,  action 
of  two  subjects;  cf.  76  adegere;  2,  24  sumpsere;  and  on  2,  30  in- 
ridebant;  Tac.  regularly  prefers  the  plur.  —  exul:  cf.  21  exilio. — 
quadriduo:  cf.  on  19  quadriduo.  —  Caesar:  cf.  on  ib.  Caesaris. — 
properata:  properare,  like  festinare,  is  used  trans,  by  Tac.;  cf. 
76  fin.;  2,  57;  3,  40.  — prior  occideretur:  from  this  it  is  evident 
that  Scribonianus  also  was  put  to  death  later  on,  perhaps  by 
Domitian.  —  variis:  explained  by  what  follows.  —  avus:  perhaps 
the  T.  Vinius  who  was  proscribed  by  the  triumvirs  (Dio  47,  7). 
If  so,  the  name  must  have  been  assumed  in  consequence  of  adop- 
tion, or  a  will.  —  legatum:  cf.  on  9;  the  province  meant  was 
Pannonia,  in  the  time  of  Caligula.  —  C.  Calvisius  Sabinus:  cos. 
26;  narrowly  escaped  death  for  maiestas  in  32  (Ann.  4,  46;  6,  9). 
On  returning  from  Pannonia  he  and  his  wife  were  both  accused, 
but  anticipated  trial  by  suicide  in  39.  Seneca  (Ep.  27,  5  ff.) 
pointedly  says  that  he  had  both  the  wealth  and  the  character  of 
a  freedman.  Cf.  Dio  59,  18.  —  habuerat:  Vinius  was  probably 
tribunus  militum  at  the  time.  —  uxor:  Cornelia;  cf.  Dio,  I.e. — 
lascivia:  no  word  is  too  strong  to  express  Tac.'s  abhorrence  of 
such  trifling,  most  repugnant  to  Roman  feeling.  Tiberius  was 
highly  incensed  at  Agrippina's  familiarity  with  the  camp;  Ann. 
1,  69;  cf.  ib.  2,  55,.  —  principiis  =  headquarters,  the  open  space 
before  the  general's  tent  (praetorium) ;  here  were  the  standards, 
the  tribunal,  and  an  altar.  —  mutations:  i.e.  the  accession  of 
Claudius.  —  inoffenso:  i.e.  he  encountered  no  further  obstacles. 
—  respersus:  only  here  in  Tac.  in  a  figurative  sense.  —  tanquam 
.  .  .  furatus:  the  charge  takes  the  form  of  a  ptcp.  clause  with 
tanquam.  Tac.'s  use  of  tanquam  does  not  carry  with  it  a  judg- 


BOOK  I  145 

ment  as  to  the  truth  or  falsity  of  the  statement;  cf.  on  8  tan- 
quam  .  .  .  fovissent.  —  et:  cf.  on  34  et.  —  fictilibus:  a  calix  fictUis 
in  Suet.  Claud.  32.  —  proconsulatu:  for  the  abl.  cf.  Ann.  3,  28 
quae  triumviratu  iusserat.  —  Gallia  Narbonensis:  a  senatorial  prov- 
ince conquered  121  B.C.  (and  enlarged  by  the  territory  of  Massilia, 
49  B.C.).  It  extended  from  the  Pyrenees  to  the  Lake  of  Geneva. 
Its  chief  cities  were  Narbo  (Narbonne),  Tolosa  (Toulouse),  Ne- 
mausus  (Nimes),  Arelate  (Aries),  Massilia  (Marseilles),  Valentia 
(Valence),  Vienna,  the  capital  (Vienne),  Cularo  (Grenoble),  and 
Genava  (Geneva).  Cf.  76,  87.  —  severe:  a  complimentary  term; 
cf.  on  14  severus.  —  intendisset:  cf.  on  10  vacaret.  —  paupertas: 
not  poverty. 

49.  neglectum  =  uncared  for,  unprotected.  —  dispensator  =» 
steward,  cashier,  in  charge  of  accounts,  etc.,  an  important  post  in 
any  large  slave-household.  —  hortis:  beyond  the  Janiculum,  on 
the  Via  Aurelia  (Suet.  Galba  20).  —  lixas  =  sutlers;  cf.  2,  87;  3, 
33.  —  calones  =  camp-servants,  unarmed  slaves;  cf.  on  2,  87. — 
suffixum:  cf.  Suet.  Galba  20  qui  hasta  suffixum  (sc.  caput)  non 
sine  ludibrio  circum  castra  portarunt.  —  Patrobius:  his  character 
may  be  inferred  from  2,  95  Polyclitos  Patrobios  et  vetera  odiorum 
nomina.  —  punitus:  i.e.  executed.  —  tribus:  this  would  give  5 
B.C.  for  his  birth-year;  Suet.  Galba  4,  makes  it  3  B.C.  (Dec.  24). 
—  principes:  Augustus  to  Nero  inc.  —  emensus:  with  the  figure 
of  a  road  traversed.  —  suo:  his  reign  was  nine  months  and  twelve 
days,  from  Apr.  3,  68,  when  he  was  hailed  imperator  in  Spain, 
seven  months  six  days  from  the  death  of  Nero.  —  ingenium  = 
character.  —  extra:  both  extra  and  citra  are  used  in  silver  Latin 
in  place  of  sine;  cf.  Agr.  1  citra  fidem;  ib.  8  extra  invidiam  nee 
extra  gloriam  erat.  —  appetens  .  .  .  avarus:  climax.  —  incidisset: 
cf .  on  10  vacaret.  —  forent  =  essent;  also  subjv.  of  indefinite  fre- 
quency; cf.  2,  5  si  res  posceret;  only  one  case  with  si  has  been 
cited  from  Cicero  (de  Oral.  1,  232),  and  that  open  to  another 
explanation.  —  natalium  =  generis;  a  silver  Latin  innovation;  cf. 
2,  76  nobilitate  natalium;  86  claris  natalibus;  Agr.  6  splendidis 
natalibus.  —  obtentui  =  excuse,  more  lit.  mantle;  cf.  Ann.  1,  10 
obtentui  sumpta;  in  Hist.  2,  14  fin.  mantle  =  protection.  —  sa- 
pientia:  cf.  Agr.  6  gnarus  sub  Nerone  temporum,  quibus  inertia  pro 
sapientia  fuit.  —  apud  Germanias:  the  colloquial  use  of  apud  for 


146  NOTES 

in  (apud  forum,  etc.),  found  in  the  comedy,  in  official  language, 
once  or  twice  in  Cic.,  became  very  common  in  the  later  writers; 
of  countries,  first  in  Tac.  Galba  was  governor  of  Upper  Ger- 
many under  Caligula,  and  won  high  credit  as  a  commander; 
Suet.  Galba  6.  He  also  went  to  Britain  on  the  staff  of  Claudius 
in  43;  Suet.  ib.  7.  —  Africam:  cf.  Suet.  ib.  Africam  pro  consule 
biennio  optinuit  (a  more  usual  expression  than  Tac.'s  continuity 
.  .  .  ordinavitque  magna  severitatis  ac  iustitiae  cura,  etiam  in 
parvulis  rebus.  —  maior  private,  etc. :  cf .  Intr.  27. 

50-70.  The  rise  of  Vitellius.  Made  emperor  in  Germany,  he 
sends  two  armies  over  the  Alps. 

50.  simul  .  .  .  simul:  Cic.  or  Caes.  would  have  used  cum  .  .  . 
turn  or  et  .  .  .  et,  etc.  A  single  example  of  simul  .  .  .  simul  is 
cited  from  Caes.  (E.G.  4,  13,  5);  freq.  in  Vergil,  Livy,  and  Tac. 

—  paventem:    cf.  on    29    paveam.  —  Vitellio:    cf.   14  init.  —  sup- 
pressus:    cf .   16    si   duae  legiones  .  .  .  nondum  quiescunt.  —  cre- 
deretur:    in  place  of  the  class,  constr.  (ace.  with  infin.)  with  the 
pass,  of  credo,  Tac.  regularly  prefers,  as  here,  the  personal  constr. 

—  nom.  with  infin.;    cf.    78    creditus    est  .  .  .  agitavisse;    4,  67 
interisse  creditus;   but   cf.  90  Othonem  uti  credebatur.  —  maerere: 
cf.  on  46  fatigari.  —  recentia:    under   Nero.  —  saevae  pacis:    cf. 
2  init.  —  repetita,  etc.;    cf.  Ann.  15,  46  iam  Spartacum  et  vetera 
mala  rumoribus  ferente  populo.  —  exercitibus:  the  (inferior)  agent, 
treated  as  mere  means,  the  responsibility  resting  with  their  com- 
manders.    Cf.  79  fin.  suis  ducibus,  etc.  —  Pharsaliam:  the  district 
around  Pharsalus;    cf.  2,  38;   the  names  are  so  arranged  that  the 
great  battles  at  a  distance  are  paired  (asyndetically),  while  the 
lesser  battles,  of  even  more  terrible  memory,  on  Italian  soil  form 
a  second  pair    (with  polysyndeton).     Euphony  and  alliteration 
were  further  reasons  for  deserting  the  chronological  order  (Phar- 
salus,  48,   Mutina,   43,   Philippi,   42,   Perusia,   41).  —  imperium: 
note  the  contrast  with  rem  publicam,  below  (on  the  latter  cf.  16 
init.).  —  Pompeio:    the    opposite   view    of    Pompey    (Tac.'s  own 
opinion)  is  given  in  2,  38.  —  ituros:    rhetorical  question;    ibimus 
in  oratio  recta;    cf.  2,  48  an   Vitellium  .  .   .  fore;    75  quid  enim 
profuturas,   etc.  —  inter:     cf.    on    1    inter  infensos.  —  deteriorem: 
even  if  the  lesser  villain  should  be  victorious,  success  would  make 


BOOK  I  147 

him  a  worse  man  than  his  rival  in  infamy.  The  thought  was  per- 
haps a  Stoic  commonplace.  A  parallel  is  cited  from  Sen.  Ep. 
14,  13:  shall  it  be  Caesar  or  Pompey  ?  —  a  question  of  no  moment 
to  Cato:  quid  tua  [sc.  refert],  uter  vincatf  potest  melior  vincere, 
non  potest  non  peio*  esse,  qui  vicerit.  —  anna  Orientis:  cf.  2,  1 
arma  Vitellii;  Intr.  19.  —  ut  .  .  .  ita:  cf.  on  4  ut  .  .  .  ita.  — 
ambigua:  for  his  avaritia,  cf.  2,  5;  Suet.  Vesp.  16  sola  est,  in  qua 
merito  culpetur,  pecuniae  cupiditas.  —  omnium,  etc.:  this  illogical 
inclusion  of  himself  among  those  with  whom  he  is  compared,  ap- 
pears to  have  arisen  from  a  misunderstanding  of  Homer's  <!>KV- 
/xopciTctTos  &\\wv,  where  the  gen.  was  not  part,  but  ablatival, 
marking  "the  starting  point  of  the  comparison"  (Seymour  on 
II.  1,  505).  Cf.  Agr.  34  ceterorum  Britannorum  fugacissimi;  Mil- 
ton's "  fairest  of  her  daughters,"  and  two  similar  cases  in  the 
same  context,  P.L.  4,  321-324.  —  ante  se:  in  attributive  posi- 
tion; a  Graecism,  in  place  of  superiorum. 

51.  Vindex:  cf.  on  6.  —  ditissimi:  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of 
Gaul  in  this  period  were  almost  proverbial.  King  Agrippa  asked 
the  Jews  whether  they  thought  themselves  richer  than  the  Gauls; 
Josephus  B.  I.  2,  16,  4;  Mommsen  R.  P.  I,  115.  Nero  had  at 
first  rejoiced  (?)  at  the  news  of  Vindex'  revolt  as  an  opportunity 
spoliandarum  iure  belli  opulentissimarum  provinciarum,  Suet.  Nero 
40;  cf.  Ann.  3,  46;  11,  18.  —  aciem:  volebat  is  in  mind,  but  be- 
comes malebat  as  the  remainder  of  the  sentence  takes  on  a  dif- 
ferent form.  —  ingenio  =  natura;  even  of  things;  cf.  2,  4  ob  in- 
genium  montis.  —  super  erant:  cf.  Germ.  26  et  super  est  ager;  6 
ne  ferrum  quidem  superest;  below,  83  egregie  supersunt.  —  seque 
et:  freq.  in  Tac.,  usually  with  a  pronoun  for  the  first  term;  also 
in  Sail,  and  Livy;  cf.  Agr.  18  seque  et  arma.  —  quaerere:  cf.  on 
46  fatigari.  —  hostes:  sc.  Gallos  (from  Gallias).  —  deerat:  cf.  on 
22  fin.  deerat.  —  pars  Galliarum:  i.e.  esp.  the  Treveri  and  Lingones* 
53  fin.  —  instigatrix:  only  here  in  Tac.  —  Vindice  =  V indicia 
nomine;  i.e.  they  ceased  calling  them  Vindiciani  in  contempt.  — 
indiderant:  sc.  Us.  —  Sequani:  their  territory  (later  included  in 
Upper  Germany)  lay  between  the  Arar  (Sadne)  and  the  Jura; 
capital  Visontio  (or  Vesontio)  =  Besangon. —  Aedui:  in  Gallia 
Lugudunensis,  west  of  the  Sequani,  between  the  Liger  (Loire)  and 
the  Arar;  capital  Augustodunum  =  Autun,  which  replaced 


148  NOTES 

Caesar's  Bibracte.  —  deinde:  instead  of  reliquis  or  ceteris.  —  rap- 
tus  penatium:  cf.  46  raptus.  —  super:  cf.  on  8  super.  —  publice: 
the  gifts  were  to  communities,  not  individuals;  cf.  66  publice 
.  .  .  multati.  —  in  ignominiam:  equiv.  to  a  purpose  clause;  cf. 
on  12  in  ...  odium.  —  iactabant:  cf.  44  iactabant.  —  vulgatum: 
the  neuter  subst.  takes  the  place  of  a  clause  (the  fact  that,  etc.), 
as  subj.  of  accessit.  —  Lugudunensis :  Lugudunum  (Lyons)  had 
many  reasons  for  attachment  to  the  Julian-Claudian  house.  It 
was  especially  favored  in  its  unique  position  as  capital  of  the 
three  Gauls;  had  a  mint,  and  a  garrison,  —  1200  men,  —  the  only 
troops  stationed  in  Gaul;  cf.  on  64;  Josephus  B.  I.  2,  16,  4; 
Strabo  4,  186,  192.  It  had  contributed  4,000,000  sest.  to  the 
rebuilding  of  Rome  after  the  fire  of  64,  and  had  received  from 
Nero  the  like  sum  in  65,  when  Lyons  had  suffered  in  the  same 
way  still  more  disastrously;  Ann.  16,  13;  Sen.  Ep.  91;  Mommsen 
R.  P.  I,  95  if.  — fecunda:  here  with  abl.,  as  in  2,  92;  but  with 
gen.  above,  11  annonae  fecundam.  —  et:  the  asyndeton  could  not 
be  continued  on  account  of  the  insertion  of  a  modifier  (here  a 
clause);  cf.  56;  2,  1  med.;  92,  95  med.;  with  out  2,  80. 

62.  Vitellius:  for  his  previous  career  cf.  on  9.  —  plura:  sc. 
egerat;  cf.  on  36  omnia  serviliter.  —  ambitione:  cf.  on  1  am- 
bitionem.  —  sordes:  cf.  60  per  avaritiam  ac  sordes.  —  Fonteius: 
cf.  on  7.  — integre:  cf.  48  fin.;  Agr.  7  integreque  ac  strenue  versa- 
turn.  —  mensura:  nom.,  sc.  erat;  others  take  it  as  abl.  —  in  maius: 
as  in  18  med.  —  ut  .  .  .  ita:  cf .  on  4  wi  ...  ita;  cf.  sicut  .  .  . 
ita  below.  —  humilis:  in  a  bad  sense,  common,  vulgar;  cf.  2,  23 
fin.  humillimo  cuique.  —  faventes  =  fautores.  —  sine  modo:  cf.  76 
fin.  —  imperi  dandi:  cf.  Ann.  15,  52  imperium  .  .  .  daturis;  12, 
64  fin.  filio  dare  imperium;  14,  7  illo  sibi  die  dari  imperium.  — 
modesti  =  orderly,  well-disciplined;  cf.  on  60  modestia;  2,  12 
modestiam  disciplinae;  87  summa  modestia;  Agr.  20  laudare 
modestiam.  —  A.  Caecina  Alienus:  cf.  53;  one  of  the  leading 
figures  in  the  story  from  this  point  on;  cos.  suff.  in  69;  cf.  2,  71, 
99-101;  3,  8-9,  13-14,  37.  He  conspired  against  Vespasian  in 
79,  and  was  put  to  death  by  Titus  as  prefect  of  the  city;  Suet. 
Tit.  6.  —  C.  Fabius  Valens:  cf.  7,  57,  61,  etc.;  legatus  of  the  1st 
legion,  at  Bonn;  the  rival  of  Caecina  in  the  struggle  for  the  con- 
trol of  Vitellius;  cos.  suff.  with  Caecina;  cf.  2,  71  et  passim;  his 


BOOK  1  149 

death  as  a  prisoner  at  Urbinum,  3,  62.  —  tanquam:  cf.  on  8  tan- 
quam  .  .  .  fovissent.  —  detectam  a  se  =  his  disclosure  of,  etc.,  and 
similarly  oppressa;  Intr.  11.  —  cunctationem :  cf.  8  nee  statim, 
etc.  —  instigate:  cf.  on  46  fatigari.  —  ipsum:  sc.  Vitellium. — 
Flaccus:  cf.  on  9.  —  male:  cf.  on  17  fin.  male.  —  precarium:  not 
precarious,  but  held  on  sufferance;  those  who  gave  (i.e.  the  legions) 
could  also  take  away.  The  expression  is  from  the  Roman  law, 
which  recognized  in  precarium  a  specific  form  of  loan  or  lease 
that  could  be  recalled  at  will,  as  being  a  matter  of  pure  benevo- 
lence. Cf.  Dig.  43,  26,  1,  2  qui  precario  concedit,  sic  dat  quasi 
tune  recepturus,  cum  sibi  libuerit  precarium  solvere.  —  sinum:  cf. 
3,  69  in  Vespasiani  sinum.  —  equestri  familia:  without  the 
virum  or  hominem  of  classical  usage,  cf.  53  scito  sermone;  so  the 
gen.  qual.  69  notae  facundiae  (cf.  note).  —  patris  consulatus,  etc.: 
cf.  on  9.  —  dignationem:  cf.  on  19  dignationem.  —  his:  neut.; 
cf.  Tac.'s  formula  his  atque  talibus,  Agr.  16;  Ann.  11,  17,  24,  etc. 
—  concupisceret:  cf.  2,  76  quo  posses  videri  concupisse. 

53.  iuventa:  cf.  4,  1  procerum  .  .  .  iuventa;  the  word  is  always 
abstr.  in  Tac.,  while  iuventus  is  concrete.  —  animi:  this  loc.  gen. 
is  freq.  in  Tac.  (found  also  in  Sail,  and  Liv.),"  cf.  2,  23  promptus 
animi;  3,  58  aeger  animi;  Ann.  1,  69  ingens  animi.  —  scito  = 
clever;  cf.  Ann.  6,  20  scitum  .  .  .  dictum  (of  a  bon  mot).  — 
iuvenem:  predicate  apposition.  —  Baetica:  the  southern,  and 
most  thoroughly  Romanized,  province  in  Spain,  governed  by  a 
proconsul;  chief  cities  Corduba  (Cordova),  Gades  (Cadiz),  His- 
palis  (Seville).  —  compertum  .  .  .  avertisse:  for  the  constr.  cf. 
Ann.  4,  22  accusata  iniecisse;  ib.  31  convictus  pecuniam  .  .  . 
cepisse;  so  Sail.,  Livy.  —  passus:  used  absolutely;  but  67  aegre 
id  passi.  —  miscere  cuncta:  cf.  2,  23  fin.;  4,  29  misceri  cuncta; 
Dial.  36  mixtis  omnibus.  —  universus:  cf.  51  contractae  legiones, 
etc.  —  vexillis:  cf.  on  31  vexilla. — praeventus:  trans.;  cf.  5 
praeventam.  —  Treveri:  in  the  Moselle  valley;  chief  town  Augusta 
Treverorum  (Treves,  Trier),  one  of  the  most  important  cities  of 
Gallia  Belgica,  in  the  4th  century  a  capital  of  the  empire.  — 
Lingones:  west  of  the  upper  Sa6ne  (Arar),  about  the  sources  of 
the  Seine  and  Marne  (Sequana  and  Matrona);  chief  town  An- 
dematunnum  (Langres,  mediev.  Langoinne),  on  the  through  road 
from  the  Rhine  via  Treves  to  Lyons.  —  atrocibus:  i.e.  threatening; 


150  NOTES 

cf.  2,  40  fin.  —  damno  finium:  cf.  8  finibus  ademptis. —  miscen- 
tur:  of  dealings  or  relations  with,  etc.;  cf.  74  antequam  legionibus 
miscerentur.  —  paganos  =  civilians;  cf.  2,  88  adversus  paganos.  — 
favor:  cf.  on  8  Verginius.  —  profuturus:  of  that  which  was 
naturally  to  be  expected;  cf.  11  fin.  cessurae  erant. 

64.  civitas:  i.e.  Andematunnum;  cf.  on  53  Lingones;  cf.  64  in 
civitate  Leucorum;  ib.  proximo,  Lingonum  civitas.  —  dextras:  as  in 
2,  8  dextras,  concordiae  insignia;  clasped  hands,  in  bronze,  prob- 
ably. A  specimen  has  been  preserved  at  Lyons.  —  in  squalorem: 
cf.  A gr.  42  in  adrogantiam  compositus;  cf.  2,  9  in  maestitiam  com- 
positus.  —  principia:  cf .  on  48  principiis;  the  scene  of  this  story 
is  Moguntiacum  (Mainz),  cf.  on  9  init. — praemia:  cf.  on  8  re- 
centi,  and  51  remissam  .  .  .  publice  donates.  —  pronis  .  .  .  auri- 
bus:  as  in  1  pronis  auribus.  —  cum:  on  the  cum  inversum  cf.  on 
29  cum  adfertur.  —  per  .  .  .  inscitiam:  darkness  and  ignorance 
on  the  part  of  their  commilitones  are  brought  together  under  the 
same  preposition  as  being  contributory  causes;  cf.  3,  22  per  iram 
ac  tenebras.  —  circumdatis :  this  arrangement  was  a  reversion  to 
the  older  camp  plan  as  described  by  Polybius.  The  legions  now 
commonly  surrounded  the  auxiliaries,  as  this  passage  shows. — 
volvens:  cf.  64  bellum  volvebat;  omitting  the  usual  animo,  in 
animo,  etc. 

55.  sollemni  =  customary;  the  sacramentum  was  renewed  each 
1st  Jan.  —  adactae:  adigere  was  the  term  for  administering  the 
oath;  it  was  done  by  the  highest  available  officers.  Cf.  76  Ves- 
pasianus  .  .  .  Mucianus  sacramento  .  .  .  adegere;  2,  55  (the  praefec- 
tus  urbi);  79  (governor  of  Egypt);  cf.  2,  14.  —  primorum  ordinum: 
probably  =  the  front  rows.  Others  understand  the  first  centurions 
(ten  to  each  legion).  The  former  interpretation  is  perhaps  favored 
by  raris.  Cf.  18  proximi  militum.  —  sequi:  a  kind  of  apposition  to 
natura;  cf .  2,  20  insita  mortalibus  natura  .  .  .  introspicere.  — 
primani,  etc.:  for  the  stations  of  the  legions,  cf.  on  9  legiones; 
below,  57  init.  —  iecerint:  the  usual  neglect  of  tense-sequence  in 
a  result-clause;  cf.  60  perfugerit.  —  legiones:  on  the  plur.  cf.  on 
18  legiones.  —  hibernis:  cf.  on  9  exercitus;  54.  The  omission  of 
the  prep,  is  esp.  freq.  in  military  Latin;  cf.  2,  22  and  Agr.  25 
isdem  castris;  2,  45  isdem  tentoriis;  but  also  2,  50  celebri  luco.  — • 
tendentes:  cf.  31  tendentes. — reverentiam:  cf.  12  rupta  sacra" 


BOOK  I  151 

menti  reverentia  (on  this  same  occasion);  Germ.  29  imperil  reve- 
rentiam.  —  exuere :  cf .  3,  5  ne  .  .  .  ius  fasque  exuerent.  —  senatus 
populique:  cf.  12  senatui  ac  populo  Romano  arbitrium  eligendi  per- 
mittere.  —  ut  in  tumultu:  cf.  on  4  ut  erga  principem:  8  tanquam 
.  .  .  multitudine.  —  suggestu:  usually  with  pro,  de,  or  e,  but  if  the 
text  is  correct,  Tac.  has  preferred  to  match  the  prep,  phrase  in 
modum  by  simple  abl.;  cf.  Ann.  3,  5  fin.  toro;  14,  20  theatro;  16, 
5  sedilibus;  Dial  13  fin.  tumulo;  Intr.  13.  —  cui  inputaretur  = 
whom  they  could  lay  under  obligations;  cf.  on  38  mihi  plurimum 
inputet. 

66.  consularis:    the  word  emphasizes  the  fact  that  he  was 
commander  of  both  legions,  as  governor  of  the  province  —  an 
officer  of  the  highest  rank,  but  only  spectator  fiagitii.  —  ruentes 
.  .  .  dubios  .  .  .  bonos:   anticlimax  in  form,  but  a  climax  of  con- 
demnation for  Hordeonius.  —  et:    cf.  on  51  fin.  et.  —  prioris  sac- 
ramenti:  to  Galba,  administered  by  Verginius    Rufus,    June,  68. 
—  unde  =  a  qua  parte;  from  the  expression   a&  aliquo  stare  =  to 
stand  up  for  a  man  (take  sides  for  him)  comes  the  use  of  unde,  etc., 
with  stare  and  esse;  cf.  Livy  21,  10,  9  unde  ius  stabat,  ei  victoriam 
dedit;   id.  24,  45,  3  aliunde  stet  semper,  aliunde  sentiat.     For  the 
omission  of    correlative  inde  cf.  3,  17;     4,  29.  — fuere:    note  the 
effect  of  the  tense  after    erant.  —  colonia  Agrippinensis:    capital 
of  Germania  Inferior  =  Cologne,  Koln.      The  younger  Agrippina, 
who  was  born  there  during  the  German  campaigns  of  her  father, 
Germanicus,  induced  her  husband,  Claudius,  to  establish  a  colony 
of  veterans  at  Oppidum  Ubiorum  A.D.  50,  and  gave  her  name  to 
the  new  city;    Ann.   12,  27;    Hist.  4,  20,  25,  etc.  —  aquilifer:    he 
had  120  miles  to  cover  between  Mainz  and  Cologne.  —  occupari: 
cf.   on   39   occupanda.  —  legiones:     i.e.    inferioris  Germaniae,   at 
Bonna  (57),  Novaesium,  and  Vetera  (on  9).  —  proinde:  cf .  on  21 
proinde.  — minore  discrimine:   emphatic,  —  it  was  less  dangerous; 
cf.  2,  46  maiore  animo  tolerari.  —  sumi:    i.e.  to  take  some  one 
ready  to  hand,  which  could  mean  only  Vitellius. 

67.  hiberna:    at  Bonna  (Bonn);    the  camp  was  just  north  of 
the  modern  city.  —  Valens:   he  was  now  legatus  of  the  1st  legion; 
cf.  on  52.  —  cum  equitibus  legionis:   the  120  cavalrymen  attached 
regularly  to  the  legion;    his  auxiliary   cavalry  would  be  more 
numerous;  cf.  Josephus  B.  I.  3,  6,  2.  —  speciosis:  cf.  34  speciosiora. 


152  NOTES 

—  scires:  cf.  on  10  laudares.  —  penes  =  at  the  disposal  of,  under 
the  orders  of;  res  publica  is  personified.  —  Agrippinenses :  cf.  on 
56.  —  Treveri,  etc.:  cf.  on  53.  —  ingenio  =  ability,  in  various 
directions,  —  any  kind  of  available  talent,  executive,  inventive, 
etc.  —  ex  affluenti:  used  as  pred.;  cf.  3,  49  satis  factum  bello 
ratus  et  cetera  ex  facili  (sc.  fore);  cf.  Agr.  15  ex  facili,  used  as 
simple  adv.,  and  so  ex  aequo  frequently,  e.g.  2,  77.  —  viatica:  i.e. 
savings.  —  balteos  =  shoulder  belts,  over  the  left  shoulder,  sup- 
porting the  sword  at  the  right  side;  often  adorned  with  silver 
bullae,  etc.,  and  given  as  rewards  of  valor.  —  phaleras:  large  disks 
of  silver,  with  heads,  etc.,  in  relief.  If  a  soldier  had  received 
several  of  these  decorations,  he  wore  them  on  a  kind  of  harness 
across  the  breast;  also  used  on  the  trappings  of  horses.  —  in- 
signia: apposition  with  balteos,  phaleras.  —  decora  =  ornata. — 
instinctu,  etc.:  the  first  et  connects  a  pair  of  synonyms,  the  second 
after  a  slight  pause,  and  with  an  unexpected  sarcasm,  adds  a 
further  motive,  in  some  cases,  i.e.  cool  calculation  of  large 
returns  from  their  present  investment. 

58.  igitur:  cf.  on  15  igitur.  —  ministeria:  Vitellius,  having  no 
body  of  freedmen  trained  in  accounts  and  affairs,  was  forced  to 
make  an  innovation  which  was  not  regularly  adopted  by  his  suc- 
cessors until  Hadrian.  In  Claudius'  reign  the  imperial  freedmen, 
Narcissus,  Pallas,  etc.,  were  virtually  ministers,  or  cabinet  secre- 
taries, each  with  his  special  department  (a  rationibus,  ab  epis- 
tulis,  etc.).  —  vacationes:  the  policy  of  Otho  too;  cf.  46. — 
plerosque  =  multos:  cf.  on  5  plerisque.  —  simulatione:  Otho  had 
done  the  same,  45  fin.,  71.  —  Pompeius  Propinquus:  his  offense 
was  that  he  had  been  the  first  to  inform  Galba  of  the  events  of 
Jan.  1  at  Mainz;  cf.  12.  —  procurator:  cf.  on  2  fin.  procurations;  a 
Cornelius  Tacitus,  perhaps  the  father  of  the  historian,  had  held 
this  office  in  Gallia  Belgica;  Plin.  N.H.  7,  76;  Intr.  1. —  classis: 
the  Rhine  fleet  was  first  organized  by  Drusus,  12  B.C.,  and  had 
played  an  important  part  in  the  campaigns  of  Tiberius  and  Ger- 
manicus.  —  tanquam:  cf.  on  8  tanquam  .  .  .  fovissent.  —  Fon- 
teio:  cf.  8.  —  occidere  .  .  .  licebat:  cf.  45  fin.,  of  Otho's  similar 
embarrassment.  —  sanguine:  is  is  omitted  for  reasons  of  euphony 
at  the  beginning;  cf.  2,  86  prima  iuventa. 

69.   lulius  Civilis:  the  politic  mercy  of  Vitellius  unexpectedly 


BOOK  I  153 

gave  the  Germans  an  able  leader  in  the  serious  war  which  broke 
out  this  same  year,  and  was  put  down  by  Vespasian  in  70;  cf. 
4,  13  et  passim.  —  periculo:  dat.;  cf.  2,  93  periculo  exemisset;  3, 
4  discrimini  exemptum;  3,  10  fin.;  the  class,  constr.  was  abl.  with 
ex  or  de  (simple  abl.  also  in  Livy).  —  Batavi:  at  the  mouths  of 
the  Rhine;  cf.  4,  12.  —  ferox  =  warlike,  eager  for  battle;  cf.  68 
feroces;  2,  43  ferox;  Britain  is  a  ferox  provincia  in  Agr.  8.  —  et 
=  et  sane,  as  34;  i.e.  such  regard  for  the  Batavians  had  its  ob- 
vious explanation.  —  civitate  Lingonum:  cf.  on  53.  —  Batavorum 
cohortes:  after  long  service  in  Germany  they  were  sent  to  Britain 
by  Nero  just  after  the  revolt  of  Boadicea  in  61;  cf.  4,  12;  Ann. 
14,  38.  They  join  Valens  on  his  southward  march  through  Gaul; 
cf.  64;  2,  27,  66,  69. —  quartae  decumae:  it  had  shared  in  the  con- 
quest of  Britain  by  Claudius,  and  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion 
of  61 ;  recalled  with  the  Batavian  auxiliaries  by  Nero,  68;  was  in 
Dalmatia  at  the  time  of  his  death,  or  soon  after;  part  of  the 
legion  fought  for  Otho  at  Bedriacum;  sent  back  to  Britain  by 
Vitellius;  cf.  Ann.  14,  34;  Hist.  1,  64;  2,  11,  27,  43,  66,  etc. - 
inclinassent:  not  subjv.  of  repeated  action  (cf.  on  10  vacaret), 
but  an  informal  ind.  discourse,  representing  the  fut.  perf.  indie, 
in  the  mind  of  Vitellius,  as  he  weighs  the  chances;  in  lieu  of  a 
principal  clause  we  have  merely  apposition  (momentum);  cf.  76 
and  2,  86  grande  momentum.  —  supra:  i.e.  56.  —  fidei  crimine: 
cf.  71  servatae  .  .  .  fidei  crimen.  —  desciscentes:  cf.  31  fidus  .  .  . 
et  desciscentibus  suspectior.  —  Valerius  Asiaticus:  cos.  designatus 
in  Dec.  of  this  year  (4,  4);  an  inscription  seems  to  show  that  he 
died  before  entering  upon  his  office  (CIL.  VI,  1528).  He  was 
probably  son  of  the  Valerius  Asiaticus  who  owned  the  gardens  of 
Lucullus  (Pincian),  and  was  forced  to  suicide  by  Claudius;  cf. 
Ann.  11,  1,  3.  —  generum:  the  daughter  in  question  afterwards 
received  an  ample  dowry  and  a  husband  of  rank  from  Vespasian; 
cf.  75  fin.;  Suet.  Vesp.  14.  —  lunius  Blaesus:  he  received  Vitellius 
in  state,  2,  59;  poisoned  in  the  autumn  of  this  year,  69,  through 
the  machinations  of  Vitellius'  brother,  3,  38  f .  —  rector  =  gov- 
ernor,—  a  broad,  non-technical  term;  formally  he  was  legatus 
Augusti  pro  praetore.  —  Italica:  prima  Italica,  a  legion  organized 
by  Nero,  and  with  the  ala  Tauriana  temporarily  stationed  at 
Lyons;  cf.  on  51  Lugudunensis;  also  64,  74;  2,  41.  —  Tauriana: 


154  NOTES 

doubtless  owed  its  name  to  a  Statilius  Taurus;  cf.  Ann.  12,  59. 
—  tendentibus:  cf.  31  tendentes.  —  Raeticis:  cf.  68  Raeticae  alae 
cohortesque;  cf.  on  11  Raetia.  —  ne  .  .  .  quidem  =  also  not,  not 
.  .  .  either;  cf.  on  29  fin.  —  dubitatum:  i.e.  the  legions  in  Britain 
promptly  took  the  sacramentum  to  Vitellius. 

60.  M.  Trebellius  Maximus:  colleague  of  the  philosopher  Seneca 
as  cos.  suff.  in  56  (or  55);   engaged  in  a  census  in  Gaul  in  61  (Ann. 
14,  46);   governor  of  Britain,  63-69;  in  the  Agr.  16  Tac.  describes 
his  administration  in  rather  more  favorable  terms.  —  per,  etc. : 
i.e.  the  means  by  which  he  had  won  the  contempt  and  hatred  of 
the  soldiers;    an  innovation  upon  the  usual  expression  of  cause 
with  propter  (ob  in  Tac.;   cf.  on  65  propter).  —  M.  Roscius  Coelius: 
cos.   suff.  81;   his  successor  in  Britain  was  Tac.'s  father-in-law; 
Agr.    7    fin.  —  vicensimae :     cf.    on    9     Britannico.  —  olim  =  for 
some  time;    cf.  67  quod  olim  Helvetii,  etc.;    2,  7  olim  mixtis  con- 
siliis;    92   olim   anxii   odiis;    Agr.    3   res   olim   dissociabiles    (i.e. 
from  time  immemorial).  — proruperant:    the  other  party,  Trebel- 
lius, had  been  suggested  by  discors.  —  spoliatas:   cf.  per  avaritiam, 
above.  —  cum  interim:   a  special  type  of  cum  inversum,   cf.  on  29 
cum    adfertur.  —  modestia  =  discipline,   good    order;    cf .    on    52 
modesti;   64  modestia  certavere;   83  modestia;   2,  27  init.  ad  modes- 
tiam.  —  eoque  discordiae  :   cf.  16  eo  necessitatis.  • —  cohortibus  :  i.e. 
of   auxiliaries;    cf.    54,   61    cohortibus  alisque;   68  and  2,    11   alae 
cohortesque.  —  perfugerit:  cf.  on  55  iecerint. —  quanquam:  cf.  on  43 
quanquam.  —  consular!:  cf.  9  sine  consulari  [sc.  legato].     Vitellius 
sent  Vettius  Bolanus  in  place  of  Trebellius;  2,  65. 

61.  adiuncto:  figuratively,   connecting  with  59  fin.,  since  60 
is  a  digression.     Only  detachments  (vexilla)  actually  came  from 
Britain;    cf.  2,  57;    3,  22.  —  Cottianis  Alpibus:    usually  Cottiis. 
The  longer  route  was  via  Treves  (cf.  53),  up  the  Moselle  valley, 
past  Metz   (63),  Toul   (64);    then  via  Langres   (54)  and  Dijon 
(Dibio)  to  the  Sa6ne,  and  so  to  Lyons  (51);   down  the  Rhone  to 
Valence  (Valentia);    up  the  Dr6me  and  the  Durance  to  the  pass, 
Mt.  Genevre  (Alpis  Cottia,  later  Matrona,  1860  metres),  and  down 
to  Turin  (Augusta  Taurinorum).      Distance,  Cologne  to  Turin,  ca. 
690  Roman  miles.  —  inrumpere:   cf.  on  40  irrumpunt.  —  Poeninis 
iugis:    the  usual  route  from  Germany  led  up  the  Rhine  to  Basel 
(Augusta  Rauricorum),  thence  over  the  eastern  end  of  the  Jura 


BOOK  I  155 


(Mons  Vocetius,  68),  to  Windisch  (Vindonissa;  cf.  on  1,  9;  4, 
61,  70),  up  the  Aar,  and  past  the  Lake  of  Morat,  via  Avenches 
(Aventicum,  68),  to  the  Lake  of  Geneva  at  Vevey  (Viviscus);  up 
the  Rhone  to  Martigny  (Octodurus),  over  the  Great  St.  Bernard 
pass  (AJpis  Poenina,  2428  metres),  and  down  via  Aosta  (Augusta 
Praetoria).  Distance,  Mainz  to  Milan,  ca.  460  Roman  miles.  — 
electi:  i.e.  nvexillum  each  from  the  1st,  XVth,  and  XVIth  legions. — 
aquila:  here  by  meton.  for  the  mam  body;  cf.  the  use  of  vexil- 
lum,  e.g.  31  fin.;  2,  89  aquilae  .  .  .  vexilla  .  .  .  signa.  —  quin- 
tae:  from  Vetera;  cf.  on  9.  —  cohortibus:  cf.  60  fin.  —  data: 
takes  its  gender  from  the  appositive;  cf .  86  fin.  —  ducebat: 
strictly  speaking,  not  until  he  had  passed  Vindonissa,  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Reuss  with  the  Aar,  the  station  of  XXI  (cf.  on  9;  2, 
43).  In  addition  to  this  legion  he  had  detachments  from  the 
IVth  and  XXIId  legions  at  Moguntiacum.  The  rest  of  XXII  evi- 
dently went  to  Italy  with  Vitellius;  cf.  on  2,  57  Germanici 
exercitus.  —  tota  mole  belli:  cf.  2,  16  tanta  mole  belli;  74,  100. 
The  phrase  represents  rather  the  potential  than  the  actual  strength 
of  Vitellius'  third  army;  it  would  be  impossible  to  withdraw  all 
the  troops  from  Germany  and  Britain;  cf.  2,  32. 

62.  instare:  the  eagerness  of  the  soldiers  is  reproduced  in  the 
animated  style  of  this  sentence,  —  hist,  infin.,  primary  sequence 
(except  esset),  abrupt  lapse  into  indirect  quotation  (at  dum,  etc.). 
All  this  in  contrast  with  the  leaden  torpebat  Vitellius.  —  cuncten- 
tur:  for  the  sudden  defection  of  Spain,  cf.  76.  —  hiemem:  Caecina 
did  cross  hibcrnis  adhuc  Alpibus,  but  not  in  January;  70  fin. — 
moras:  i.e.  inertia.  —  occupandam:  cf.  on  39  occupanda. — for- 
tunam  =  high  rank;  cf.  10  fin.  —  praesumebat  =  enjoyed  in  advance; 
cf.  Agr.  18  praesumpta  .  .  .  quies.  —  medio  diei:  the  freq.  use  in 
Tac.  of  neut.  subst.  with  gen.;  cf.  3,  11  init.;  2,  53  medio  temporis; 
2,  14  fin.  obscurum  noctis.  —  sagina:  contemptuous;  cf.  2,  71  luxu 
ct  saginae  mancipatus  emptusque  (of  Vitellius);  95  fin.  —  cum 
tamen:  cum,  with  imperf.  in  both  clauses,  marks  the  coincidence, 
tamen  the  contradiction.  —  ultro:  cf.  on  7  ultra.  —  munia:  the 
form  regularly  preferred  by  Tac.  in  this  mg.  —  addito:  aoristic; 
cf.  on  20  relicta.  Formally  the  senate  alone  could  confer  the 
title.  —  Caesarem:  he  also  declined  at  first  the  title  Augustus; 
2,  62,  90.  —  prohibuit:  with  ace.  and  pass,  infin.  even  in  Cic. 


156  NOTES 

and  Caes.  —  augurium:  this  kind  of  nom.  apposition  is  to  be 
distinguished  from  the  ace.  apposition,  for  which  cf.  on  44  muni- 
mentum;  the  former  allows  greater  freedom  of  position;  cf.  4, 
57  flagitium  incognitum;  Ann.  2,  17  pulcherrimum  augurium.  — 
profectionis:  i.e.  from  Cologne.  —  meatu  =  volatu.  —  incederet: 
cf.  on  10  vacaret. 

63.  Et  .  .  .  quidem:  i.e.  the  omen  had  immediate  fulfillment; 
cf.  8.  —  Treveros:  cf.  on  53  Treveri.  —  Divodurum  =  Metz,  which 
is  derived  from  Mediomatrici,  corrupted  into  Mettis  as  early  as  the 
sixth  century  (Venant.  Fort.);  next  to  Treves  the  most  important 
place  in  the  Moselle  valley.  —  quanquam:  cf.  on  43  quanquam.  — 
raptis:    cf.  Intr.  7;    the  very  loose  abl.  abs.  displaces  a  result 
clause  (adeo  terruit,  ut,  etc.). —  ob  praedam  .  .  .  cupidine:   on  the 
variety  cf.   Intr.  13.  —  et  causis  incertis:    et  does  not  exactly  cor- 
respond with  the  preceding  et   (which  rather  =  -que);    cf .  on  57 
fin.  instinctu.  —  eoque:    the  use  of  -que  between  ablative  phrases 
which  we  place  in  quite  different  categories  shows  that  Tac.  drew 
no  such  hard  and  fast  lines.  —  cum  magistratibus  et  precibus: 
may  be  taken  as  hendiadys  (=  cum  magistratibus  deprecantibus) ; 
but  it  is  unlikely  that  Tac.  meant  to  limit  the  preces  to  the  magis- 
trates;  and  elsewhere  he  pairs  things  which  do  not  strictly  admit 
of  such  treatment;    cf.  2,  3  precibus  et  igne  puro;   3,  22  per  iram 
ac  tenebras,  etc.  —  quaeque  .  .  .  tendebantur:    for  the  loose  con- 
nection of  this  type  of  clause  with  a  preceding  abl.  abs.  cf.  2,  4 
init.  —  placamenta:    i.e.  other  gifts,  and  olive-branches,  fillets, 
etc.;    cf.  66  velamenta  et  infulas  praeferentes. 

64.  imperio  =  accession:   cf.  on  4  imperil.  —  civitas  Leucorum 
=  Tullum,  now  Toul,  on  the   upper    Moselle,  west    of    Nancy. 

The  Leuci  occupied  the  territory  south  of  the  Mediomatrici,  north 
of  the  Lingones,  i.e.  west  of  the  Vosges  Mts.  —  accepit:  the  news 
must  have  reached  this  part  of  Gaul  within  twelve  to  fifteen 
days;  the  date  is  then  about  the  end  of  January.  —  in  gaudium: 
for  the  variety,  —  prep,  phrase  and  abl.,  cf.  Intr.  13.  —  volve- 
bat:  cf.  54  fin.  volvens.  —  ex  Vitellio:  cf.  Agr.  16  ex  legato  timor; 
2,  67  e  praetoriis  cohortibus  metus  erat;  classical  metus,  etc.  ab 
aliquo.  —  Lingonum  civitas:  now  Langres;  cf.  on  54  init.  —  mo- 
destia:  cf.  on  60  modestia.  —  cohortium:  the  Batavians  of  59.  — 
supra:  59.  —  iurgia:  subj.  of.  exarsere,  no  ellipsis.  —  studia  mili- 


BOOK  I  157 

turn:  cf.  Cic.'s  studio,  iuventutis  =  interested  young  men,  Cato  M.  28; 
cf.  17  publica  expectatio.  —  exarsere:  after  prope  it  was  unneces- 
sary to  write  exarsissent.  —  animadversione  =  supplicio.  —  im- 
peril =  authority;  gen.  dirk  KOIVOV  with  oblitos  and  admonuisset. 
—  Aeduos:  cf.  on  51  Aeduis.  —  Lugudunenses:  cf.  on  ib.  Lugu- 
dunensis.  —  gaudio:  in  Gaul  and  Germany  Vitellius,  having 
claimed  the  throne  before  the  death  of  Galba,  was  considered 
the  avenger  of  Nero.  Elsewhere  Otho  profited  by  the  same  re- 
action.—  Italica:  cf.  on  59  Italica.  —  ala:  cf.  ib.  —  duodevicen- 
simam:  for  about  fifty  years  at  least  the  garrison  of  Lugudunum 
had  consisted  of  a  single  cohort  of  a  thousand  men  (Ann.  13,  41; 
21  A.D.;  1200  men  in  Josephus  B.  I.  2,  16,  4),  stationed  there 
partly  on  account  of  the  mint  (moneta,  cf.  on  51).  Cf.  the  tomb- 
stone (found  at  Vichy)  of  a  soldier  COH  (ortis).  xvn  •  LVGVDVNI- 
ENSIS-AD-MONETAM  (OIL.  XIII,  1499).  By  the  year  69  the  17th 
cohort  had  been  transferred  to  Ostia  (below,  80),  and  the  18th  had 
come  in  its  place.  They  were  probably  reckoned  among  the  co- 
hortes  urbanae,  of  which  three  only  were  stationed  at  Rome.  — 
solitis  sibi:  cf.  Ann.  3,  51  Tiberius  solitis  sibi  ambagibus;  Hist. 
4,  23  machinas  etiam,  insolitum  sibi,  ausi.  —  T.  Manlius  Valens:  as 
legatus  of  a  legion  in  Britain  he  was  defeated  A.D.  50  (  Ann.  12, 
40).  At  the  age  of  90  he  became  cos.  in  96. 

65.  Viennenses:  Vienna  (Vienne)  on  the  Rhone  below  Lyons 
the  chief  town  of  the  Allobroges.  Even  in  the  time  of  Claudius 
it  was  ornatissima  colonia  valentissimaque  Viennensium,  as  that 
emperor  himself  describes  it  in  an  oration  preserved  in  part  on 
a  bronze  tablet  at  Lyons  (CIL.  XIII,  1668).  Vienne  was  the 
seat  of  the  senatorial  governor  of  Gall.  Narb.  —  bellum:  the  up- 
rising headed  by  Vindex,  governor  of  Gall.  Lugud.;  cf.  on  6  and 
8.  Lyons  remained  loyal  to  Nero.  —  in  vicem:  attributive  posi- 
tion; cf.  Agr.  24  magnis  in  vicem  usibus;  Germ.  37  multa  in 
vicem  damna.  —  crebrius  infestiusque:  the  ellipsis  of  fieri  (here 
factae  erant),  agere,  etc.  was  frequent  in  letters,  rare  in  the  his- 
torians, except  Tac.;  cf.  36  omnia  serviliter,  and  note  ad  loc;  84 
vss  quidem  istud  pro  me;  Agr.  19  nihil  per  libertos.  —  propter: 
the  only  occurrence  of  causal  propter  in  Tac.,  except  Dial.  21; 
on  the  other  hand  he  does  not  use  his  favorite  ob  of  persons.  — 
irae:  i.e.  to  satisfy  his  anger;  obj.  gen.;  or  like  60  occasione 


158  NOTES 

civilium  armorum,  subj.  gen.  —  discretis:  Vienne  is  on  the  left 
bank,  while  Roman  Lyons  was  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Sa6ne, 
directly  opposite  the  tongue  of  land  between  Rhone  and  Sadne. 
The  cities  were  in  reality  16  miles  apart,  but  fact  is  sacrificed  to 
epigram.  Note  the  chiasmus  and  antithesis.  —  conexum  odium: 
i.e.  a  link  of  hatred.  —  nuper  =  more  recently;  i.e.  after  the  fall  of 
Vindex.  —  externa:  supporting  Vindex  could  be  made  to  appear 
evidence  of  anti-Roman  feeling.  —  coloniam :  Vienne  was  also  a 
Roman  colony  (cf.  66),  but  of  more  recent  organization  as 
such  (Caligula,  Claudius),  than  Lyons  (43  B.C.,  Octavian).  —  par- 
tem  exercitus:  Lyons  alone  among  Gallic  towns  had  a  Roman 
garrison;  cf.  on  64.  —  contra  daret:  as  the  judge,  who  decides 
in  favor  of  one  of  the  parties  was  said  secundum  aliquem  dare, 
fortune  here  gives  an  unfavorable  decision;  the  same  phrase, 
Ann.  15,  13. 

66.  in  eundem  modum:  attributive;  Tac.'s  usual  phrase  is 
his  atque  talibus;  cf.  2,  2;  1,  16  fin.  —  cum:  cf.  on  29  cum  adfer- 
tur.  —  velamenta  et  infulas:  olive  branches  wound  with  woolen 
fillets;  cf.  Verg.  Aen.  11,  101  velati  ramis  oleae  veniamque  rogan- 
tes;  7,  154  ramis'yelatos  Palladis;  Plaut.  Amph.  257  velatis  mani- 
bus  orant.  —  vestigia:  substituted  for  pedes  partly  for  reasons  of 
euphony ;  note  the  crescendo  effect.  —  turn  =•=  turn  demum;  after 
their  humiliation;  cf.  82.  —  vetustas,  etc.:  cf.  on  65  init. — 
aequis:  cf.  pronis  auribus  1  and  54. — publice:  i.e.  as  a  com- 
munity; cf.  51  publice  donates.  —  promiscuis  =  of  every  kind; 
omit  et  in  translating. — fama  constans:  cf.  Agr.  43  constans 
rumor.  —  inopi  iuventa:  causal  abl.;  or  circumstantial  abl. 
illogically  connected  with  senex  prodigus  for  the  sake  of  the 
chiasmus.  —  Allobroges:  their  territory  was  partly  inclosed  (in- 
sula  Allobrogum)  between  the  Rhone  and  the  Isere,  but  extended 
also  to  the"  Lake  of  Geneva  and  Mt.  Blanc;  chief  towns  Vienna, 
Cularo  (Grenoble),  Genava  (Geneva).  —  Vocontii:  south  of 
Grenoble,  chiefly  in  the  mountains  of  southern  Dauphin^;  prin- 
cipal towns  Vasio  (Vaison)  and  Lucus  (v.  below).  —  stativorum: 
it  was  a  lentum  agmen,  lingering  in  stativa,  until  sufficient  induce- 
ments tempted  them  to  move  on.  —  adversus:  unusual  for  cum, 
when  the  phrase  modifies  a  subst. — minaciter:  join  with  ven- 
ditante;  his  bargaining  was  not  without  threats  of  violence.  — 


BOOK  I  159 

Lucus:  on  the  river  Drdme,  in  Dauphin6,  now  Luc.  —  quotiens 
.  .  .  deesset:  cf.  on  10  vacaret.  —  Alpes:  sc.  Cottias;  cf.  on  61 
Cottianis  Alpibus. 

67.  hausit:    zeugma,  of  that  form  in  which  the  lit.  and  fig. 
mg.  of  a  word  are  combined;    cf.  below,  tuebantur.  —  turbidum: 
i.e.   fiery;     cf.    4,    38     nequaquam    turbidus    ingenio.  —  Helvetia: 
Caesar,  E.G.  1,  2  gives    their    boundaries  as  the  Jura   (N.  and 
W.),  the  Lake  of  Geneva  and  upper  Rhone  (S.),  and  upper  Rhine 
(N.   and   E.).  —  olim:     before  Caesar's   conquest,  58  B.C.      The 
greatest  fame  had  been  achieved  by  the  canton  of  the  Tigurini, 
who  under  the  lead  of  Divico  had  joined  the  Cimbri,  107  B.C., 
defeated  a   Roman  army  on   the   Garonne,     had    later  invaded 
Italy  by  the  Brenner  pass,  102,  and  returned  to  their  homes  the 
next  year  after  the  great  defeat  of  the  Cimbri  (Caes.  I.e.  7  and 
12;    Livy,  per.  65).  —  de  caede  .  .  .  ignari:   instead  of  the  gen.; 
yet  Tac.  does  not  avoid  two  gen.  depending  on  each  other;    cf. 
70  init.  —  initium  bello:    a  favorite  use  of   the  dat.  with  Tac.; 
cf.  2,   1  initia  .  .  .  imperio;  4,  19  causam  seditioni;   Ann.  2,  21 
finem  bello;   ib.  64  fin.  causas  bello;    Hist.  2,  19  sedem  bello;   3, 
8    quae     sedes     bello    legeretur.  —  unaetvicensimae :     cf.    on     61 
ducebat.  —  rapuerant:    i.e.  before   Caecina  reached  Vindonissa.  — 
castelli:    cf.  on  locus,  below;  the  nearness  of  the  German  frontier 
accounts  for  the  castellum,  garrisoned  and  maintained  by  the 
Helvetii.  —  olim:   for  the  mg.  cf.  on  60  olim.  —  tuebantur:   with 
the  usual  mg.    (with  militibus)  is  combined  that  of  maintained 
(with  stipendiis) ;  cf.  above,  hausit.    Cf.  Ann.  3,  54nos  .  .  .  nemora 
nostraeque   villae  tuebuntur;     Germ.    14    tueare.  —  epistulis  =  lit- 
teris;    i.e.  a  single  letter,  as  often  in  Tac.  and  Pliny's  Ep.;    cf. 
2,  54  fin.,  55  fin.,  64,  etc.  —  municipii:    i.e.  the  vicus  had  grown 
and  prospered,  until  it  might  be  mistaken  for  a  municipium.  — 
locus  =  Aquae  Helvetiorum,  or  vicus  Aquensis,  now  Baden,  east 
of  Vindonissa.     The  Roman  interest  in  watering-places  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  the  Antonine  Itinerary  contains  the  names  of 
more  than  thirty   Aquae,  and  seventy  others  are  known  from 
inscrr.,  etc.  —  amoeno:  adds  the  idea  of  the  picturesque  situation. 
—  Raetica  auxilia:  cf.  59  fin. 

68.  feroces:    cf.  on  59  ferox;   a  common  characteristic  of  the 
Celts;    cf.  Caesar,    E.G.  3,   19,  6  ad  bella  suscipienda  Gallorum 


160  NOTES 

alacer  ac  promptus  est  animus.  —  quanquam:  with  ind.,  uncom- 
mon in  Tac.;  cf.  2,  92  fin.  —  Claudium:  many  provincials  in 
Gaul  and  the  Rhine  provinces  bore  the  emperor  Claudius'  name. 
The  popularity  of  Julius  Caesar  was  shown  in  the  same  way; 
cf.  68  fin.  lulium  Alpinum;  69  Claudius  Cossus;  4,  13  lulius 
Civilis;  33,  55,  etc.  —  non  arma  noscere  =  armis  uti  nescire.  — 
ordines  sequi:  cf.  Germ.  30  nosse  ordines.  —  in  unum:  cf.  4,  70 
in  unum  consulere;  2,  5  in  medium  consuluere;  Agr.  12  in  com- 
mune non  consulunt.  —  veteranos:  the  modern  use  of  the  word; 
not  in  the  strict  sense.  —  obsidio:  from  the  standpoint  of  the 
besieged.  —  inde  :  preferred  by  Tac.  to  illinc  as  correlative  to  hinc; 
cf.  84  hinc  .  .  .  inde;  2,  6,  15,  etc.  —  Raeticae:  cf.  59  fin.  —  iuventus: 
i.e.  militia.  —  exercita  =  trained,  drilled;  cf.  2,  4  exercitae  bello.  — 
medio :  between  the  legion  and  the  forces  from  Raetia;  on  the  omis- 
sion of  in,  cf.  3,  16  vacuum  medio  relinquit  Her;  Ann.  1,  64  medio 
montium  et  paludum.  —  vagi:  to  avoid  the  monotony  of  vagantes 
.  .  .  palantes.  Cf.  Sail.  lug.  18,  2  vagi  palantes;  Liv.  5,  44,  5 
vagique  per  agros  palantur;  21,  61,  2  vagos  palantisque  per  agros. 
—  mons  Vocetius:  now  Bozberg,  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  Jura. 
—  cohorte  Thracum:  several  cohorts  of  Thracians  on  the  Rhine 
are  known  from  inscriptions;  one  had  its  station  at  Neuwied.  — 
sub  corona:  cf.  Caelius  Sabinus  (the  jurist)  ap.  Gell.  6,  4,  3  anti- 
quitus  mancipia  iure  belli  capta  coronis  induta  veniebant  et  idcirco 
dicebantur  "sub  corona"  venire;  Ann.  13,  39  fin.;  Livy  5,  22,  1, 
etc.  —  Aventicum:  now  Avenches,  near  the  Lake  of  Morat;  chief 
town  of  the  Tigurini;  cf.  on  67  init.  olim.  —  concitorem:  cf.  4,  56 
and  Ann.  4,  28  concitores  belli. 

69.  civitatis:  i.e.  Aventicum;  cf.  54  init.  —  verbis  ac  minis: 
not  necessarily  hendiadys;  Vitellius  no  doubt  mingled  reproaches 
with  threats.  —  temperabat:  here  with  dat.  of  that  from  which 
one  refrains;  cf.  3,  53  sermonibus;  Ann.  13,  3  risui;  14,  37  neci; 
the  class,  constr.  a  and  abl.,  above,  63  ab  excidio;  2,  88  06  in- 
noxiis;  cf.  on  2,  47  felicitati.  —  cum:  cf.  on  29  cum  adfertur. — 
notae  facundiae:  for  the  gen.  qual.  connected  directly  with  the 
name,  cf.  4,  15  stolidae  audaciae  Brinno,  claritate  natalium  in- 
signi;  49  Valerius  Festus,  sumptuosae  adulescentiae.  In  this  Tac. 
followed  Livy;  e.g.  4,  41,  12;  21,  1,  4;  22,  60,  5.  Isolated  ex- 
amples occur  in  Nepos  and  Caes.  (e.g.  E.G.  5,  35,  7).  For  the 


BOOK  I  161 

abl.  qual.  so  used,  cf.  on  52  equestri  familia.  —  ut  est  mos:  cf. 
7  fin.  ut  est  mos  vulgi;  80  vulgus,  ut  mos  est;  Ann.  1,  39  utque 
mos  vulgo.  —  subitis:  cf.  on  7  subitis.  —  effusis:  cf.  2,  45  in  lacri- 
mas  effusi.  —  inpetravere :  distance  from  the  collective  subj. 
vulgus,  accounts  for  the  plural. 

70.  Vitellii:  he  may  have  reached  Treves  by  this  time.  For 
his  journey  down  the  Sadne  and  arrival  at  Lyons  (April)  cf.  2, 
59.  —  alam  Silianam:  cf.  2,  17  on  their  reasons;  this  ala  may 
have  owed  its  name  to  C.  Silius,  governor  of  Upper  Germany 
under  Tiberius  (Ann.  1,  31);  it  was  in  Pannonia  under  Domi- 
tian,  in  Dacia  in  the  time  of  Trajan.  —  pro  consule:  Africa  was 
a  senatorial  province  of  the  first  rank,  governed  by  an  ex-consul. 
—  Vitellium:  cf.  on  9.  —  in  Aegyptum:  on  Nero's  plans  cf.  on 
31  fin.  —  Vindicis:  cf.  51  init.  —  revocati:  cf.  9  excitae  a  Nerone 
legiones.  —  decurionum:  commanders  of  the  turmae,  —  30  men 
and  more  —  in  the  ala  or  centuria  equitata.  —  obstricti  =  under 
obligations,  attached;  cf.  2,  37  fin.;  Ann.  14,  7  praetorianos  toil 
Caesarum  domui  obstrictos.  —  Germanic!  exercitus:  added  for 
rhetorical  reasons,  partly  emphasis,  partly  symmetry,  —  the  Latin 
love  of  balanced  phrases;  cf.  2,  21  legionum  et  Germanici  exer- 
citus robur.  —  principi:  with  donum  (cf.  3,  61  donum  victori;  5, 
22  fin.  donum  Velaedae),  but  also  vaguely  felt  with  adiunxere.  — 
transpadanae:  Augustus'  Xlth  region  of  Italy,  reaching  as  far  east 
as  Lake  Como  and  its  outlet  the  Adda  (Addua). — Mediolanum  = 
Milan;  the  other  towns,  now  Novara,  Ivrea,  Vercelli,  were  the 
first  three  stations  on  the  highroad  from  Milan  to  Aosta  and  the 
Great  and  Little  St.  Bernard  passes  (cf.  on  61).  —  ipsos:  i.e.  legati 
of  the  towns,  accompanying  messengers  sent  by  the  Siliani;  cf. 
Germ.  2  ipsos  Germanos;  Agr.  13  ipsi  Britanni.  —  Italiae  pars: 
i.e.  the  whole  country  north  of  the  Po;  for  between  the  Xlth 
region  and  the  Xth  (Venetia)  there  was  no  boundary  that  could 
assume  military  importance.  —  Lusitanorum,  etc.:  cf.  on  13 
Lusitaniam;  various  cohorts  of  Lusitanians  and  Britons  are 
known  from  inscriptions.  —  vexillis:  i.e.  cavalry,  each  ala  having 
its  own  vexiUum;  cf.  on  31  vexilla;  2,  11  equitum  vexilla.  —  ala 
Petriana:  owed  its  name  perhaps  to  the  T.  Pomponius  Petra  of 
Ann.  11,  4,  in  the  time  of  Tiberius.  Mainz  seems  to  have  been 
its  present  station;  in  Britain  after  the  Civil  War;  at  the  Wall  of 

H 


162  NOTES 

Hadrian  down  to  the  end  of  the  third  century.  —  cunctatus  est: 
with  the  constr.  of  dubitare  =  deliberate;  only  here  in  Tac.  — num: 
introducing  that  alternative  which  one  at  first  inclines  to  prefer; 
cf.  2,  83  ambiguus  consilii,  num,  etc.  —  Raeticis  iugis:  i.e.  from 
the  Rhine  valley  above  the  Lake  of  Constance  over  into  the  upper 
valley  of  t'.  e  Inn.  —  Noricum:  cf.  on  11  Noricum.  —  flecteret: 
for  the  absol.  use  cf .  2,  70  Cremonam  flexit.  —  Petronius  Urbicus: 
he  appears  as  procurator)  August(i)  on  an  inscr.  at  Klagenfurt, 
OIL.  Ill,  Suppl.  if 551.  —  procuratorem:  cf.  on  2  procura- 
tiones.  —  alasque:  i.e.  the  Germanorum  vexilla  and  ala  Petriana. 
—  foret  =  esset;  cf.  49  forent.  —  cessuros:  cf.  11  fin.  in  pretium 
belli  cessurae  erant. — Poenino:  cf.  on  61  Poeninis  iugis. — 
subsignanum  militem:  i.e.  legionaries,  with  the  standards  of  their 
maniples,  and  the  eagle  of  the  XXIst  (61  fin.);  cf.  4,  33  subsig- 
nano  milite.  —  et:  explanatory  =  id  est;  in  English  the  second 
member  would  naturally  take  the  form  of  a  mere  appositive  to 
the  first.  The  unnecessary  fullness  of  speech  (cf.  on  Germanici 
exercitus,  above)  adds  to  the  impression  of  a  heavy  column  with 
baggage,  in  contrast  to  the  light-armed  advance  guard.  —  legi- 
onum:  a  generic  use  of  the  plural,  where  one  complete  legion 
(cf.  61)  is  mentioned  along  with  detachments  of  others;  so  also 
2,  22,  25. 

71-90.  Otho  as  emperor.  Having  arranged  his  affairs  at  Rome 
in  the  midst  of  various  alarms,  he  finally  sets  out  to  meet  the 
armies  of  Vitellius. 

71.  Otho:  by  a  tactful  change  of  scene  Tac.  recalls  his  readers 
from  the  Vitellian  armies  in  the  Alps,  and  the  impending  inva- 
sion of  Italy,  to  Rome  and  the  new  government  of  Otho.  —  non 
.  .  .  torpescere:  in  contrast  with  his  rival,  —  torpebat  Vitellius, 
62.  —  dilatae  voluptates,  etc.:  cf.  Intr.  23.  —  reditura:  i.e.  which 
might  be  expected  to  return;  cf.  27  f.n.  sumpturi.  — Marius  Celsus : 
cf.  on  14.  —  speciem,  etc.:  cf.  58  simulatione  vinculorum.  —  titu- 
lus:  with  the  figure  of  a  eulogistic  inscription,  for  the  reputation 
itself;  cf.  75  fin.  clementiae  gloriam.  — fidei  crimen:  sarcastic,  as  59 
damnatos  fidei  crimine.  —  ultro:  cf.  on  7  ultra.  —  imputavit:  i.e. 
he  went  so  far  (ultro)  as  to  set  it  down  to  his  own  credit,  as  an 
example  of  fidelity;  cf.  on  38  mihi  plurimum  inputet;  2,  60  pro- 
ditionem  ultro  inputabant.  —  nee:  to  be  joined  with  ignosceret; 


BOOK  I  161 

abl.  qual.  so  used,  cf.  on  52  equestri  familia.  —  ut  est  mos:  cf. 
7  fin.  ut  est  mos  vulgi;  80  vulgus,  ut  mos  est;  Ann.  1,  39  utque 
mos  vulgo.  —  subitis:  cf.  on  7  subitis.  —  effusis:  cf.  2,  45  in  lacri- 
mas  effusi.  —  inpetravere:  distance  from  the  collective  subj. 
vulgus,  accounts  for  the  plural. 

70.  Vitellii:  he  may  have  reached  Treves  by  this  time.  For 
his  journey  down  the  Sa6ne  and  arrival  at  Lyons  (April)  cf.  2, 
59.  —  alam  Silianam:  cf.  2,  17  on  their  reasons;  this  ala  may 
have  owed  its  name  to  C.  Silius,  governor  of  Upper  Germany 
under  Tiberius  (Ann.  1,  31);  it  was  in  Pannonia  under  Domi- 
tian,  in  Dacia  in  the  time  of  Trajan.  —  pro  consule:  Africa  was 
a  senatorial  province  of  the  first  rank,  governed  by  an  ex-consul. 
—  Vitellium:  cf.  on  9.  —  in  Aegyptum:  on  Nero's  plans  cf.  on 
31  fin.  —  Vindicis:  cf.  51  init. — revocati:  cf.  9  excitae  a  Nerone 
legiones.  —  decurionum:  commanders  of  the  turmae,  —  30  men 
and  more  —  in  the  ala  or  centuria  equitata.  —  obstricti  =  under 
obligations,  attached;  cf.  2,  37  fin.;  Ann.  14,  7  praetorianos  toti 
Caesarum  domui  obstrictos.  —  Germanic!  exercitus:  added  for 
rhetorical  reasons,  partly  emphasis,  partly  symmetry,  —  the  Latin 
love  of  balanced  phrases;  cf.  2,  21  legionum  et  Germanici  exer- 
citus robur.  —  principi:  with  donum  (cf.  3,  61  donum  victori;  5, 
22  fin.  donum  Velaedae),  but  also  vaguely  felt  with  adiunxere.  — 
transpadanae:  Augustus'  Xlth  region  of  Italy,  reaching  as  far  east 
as  Lake  Como  and  its  outlet  the  Adda  (Addua).  — Mediolanum  = 
Milan;  the  other  towns,  now  Novara,  Ivrea,  Vercelli,  were  the 
first  three  stations  on  the  highroad  from  Milan  to  Aosta  and  the 
Great  and  Little  St.  Bernard  passes  (cf.  on  61).  —  ipsos:  i.e.  legati 
of  the  towns,  accompanying  messengers  sent  by  the  Siliani;  cf. 
Germ.  2  ipsos  Germanos;  Agr.  13  ipsi  Britanni.  —  Italiae  pars: 
i.e.  the  whole  country  north  of  the  Po;  for  between  the  Xlth 
region  and  the  Xth  (Venetia)  there  was  no  boundary  that  could 
assume  military  importance.  —  Lusitanorum,  etc.:  cf.  on  13 
Lusitaniam;  various  cohorts  of  Lusitanians  and  Britons  are 
known  from  inscriptions.  —  vexillis:  i.e.  cavalry,  each  ala  having 
its  own  vexiUum;  cf.  on  31  vexilla;  2,  11  equitum  vexilla.  —  ala 
Petriana:  owed  its  name  perhaps  to  the  T.  Pomponius  Petra  of 
Ann.  11,  4,  in  the  time  of  Tiberius.  Mainz  seems  to  have  been 
its  present  station;  in  Britain  after  the  Civil  War;  at  the  Wall  of 


162  NOTES 

Hadrian  down  to  the  end  of  the  third  century.  —  cunctatus  est: 
with  the  constr.  of  dubitare  =  deliberate;  only  here  in  Tac.  —  num: 
introducing  that  alternative  which  one  at  first  inclines  to  prefer; 
cf.  2,  83  ambiguus  consilii,  num,  etc.  —  Raeticis  iugis:  i.e.  from 
the  Rhine  valley  above  the  Lake  of  Constance  over  into  the  upper 
valley  of  t!  e  Inn.  —  Noricum:  cf.  on  11  Noricum.  —  flecteret: 
for  the  absol.  use  cf .  2,  70  Cremonam  flexit.  —  Petronius  Urbicus: 
he  appears  as  procurator)  August(i)  on  an  inscr.  at  Klagenfurt, 
CIL.  Ill,  Suppl.  11551.  —  procuratorem:  cf.  on  2  procura- 
tiones.  —  alasque:  i.e.  the  Germanorum  vexilla  and  ala  Petriana. 
—  foret  =  esset;  cf.  49  forent.  —  cessuros:  cf.  11  fin.  in  pretium 
belli  cessurae  erant.  —  Poenino:  cf.  on  61  Poeninis  iugis. — 
subsignanum  militem:  i.e.  legionaries,  with  the  standards  of  their 
maniples,  and  the  eagle  of  the  XXIst  (61  fin.);  cf.  4,  33  subsig- 
nano  milite.  —  et:  explanatory  =  id  est;  in  English  the  second 
member  would  naturally  take  the  form  of  a  mere  appositive  to 
the  first.  The  unnecessary  fullness  of  speech  (cf.  on  Germanici 
exercitus,  above)  adds  to  the  impression  of  a  heavy  column  with 
baggage,  in  contrast  to  the  light-armed  advance  guard.  —  legi- 
onum:  a  generic  use  of  the  plural,  where  one  complete  legion 
(cf.  61)  is  mentioned  along  with  detachments  of  others;  so  also 
2,  22,  25. 

71-90.  Otho  as  emperor.  Having  arranged  his  affairs  at  Rome 
in  the  midst  of  various  alarms,  he  finally  sets  out  to  meet  the 
armies  of  Vitellius. 

71.  Otho:  by  a  tactful  change  of  scene  Tac.  recalls  his  readers 
from  the  Vitellian  armies  in  the  Alps,  and  the  impending  inva- 
sion of  Italy,  to  Rome  and  the  new  government  of  Otho.  —  non 
.  .  .  torpescere:  in  contrast  with  his  rival,  —  torpebat  Vitellius, 
62.  —  dilatae  voluptates,  etc.:  cf.  Intr.  23.  —  reditura:  i.e.  which 
might  be  expected  to  return;  cf.  27  fin.  sumpturi.  — Marius  Celsus : 
cf.  on  14.  —  speciem,  etc.:  cf.  58  simulatione  vinculorum.  —  titu- 
lus:  with  the  figure  of  a  eulogistic  inscription,  for  the  reputation 
itself;  cf.  75  fin.  clementiae  gloriam.  —  fidei  crimen:  sarcastic,  as  59 
damnatos  fidei  crimine.  —  ultro:  cf.  on  7  ultro.  —  imputavit:  i.e. 
he  went  so  far  (ultro)  as  to  set  it  down  to  his  own  credit,  as  an 
example  of  fidelity;  cf.  on  38  mihi  plurimum  inputet;-  2,  60  pro- 
ditionem  ultro  inputabant.  —  nee:  to  be  joined  with  ignosceret; 


BOOK  I  159 

Lucus:  on  the  river  Dr6me,  in  Dauphin6,  now  Luc.  —  quotiens 
.  .  .  deesset:  cf.  on  10  vacaret.  —  Alpes:  sc.  Cottias;  cf.  on  61 
Cottianis  Alpibus. 

67.  hausit:    zeugma,  of  that  form  in  which  the  lit.  and  fig. 
mg.  of  a  word  are  combined;    cf.  below,  tuebantur.  —  turbidum: 
i.e.   fiery;     cf.    4,    38     nequaquam    turbidus    ingenio.  —  Helvetii: 
Caesar,  B.  G.  1,  2  gives    their    boundaries  as  the  Jura   (N.  and 
W.),  the  Lake  of  Geneva  and  upper  Rhone  (S.),  and  upper  Rhine 
(N.   and   E.).  —  olim:     before  Caesar's  conquest,  58   B.C.      The 
greatest  fame  had  been  achieved  by  the  canton  of  the  Tigurini, 
who  under  the  lead  of  Divico  had  joined  the  Cimbri,  107  B.C., 
defeated  a  Roman  army  on  the  Garonne,    had    later  invaded 
Italy  by  the  Brenner  pass,  102,  and  returned  to  their   homes  the 
next  year  after  the  great  defeat  of  the  Cimbri  (Caes.  I.e.  7  and 
12;    Livy,  per.  65). —  de  caede  .  .  .  ignari:    instead  of  the  gen.; 
yet  Tac.  does  not  avoid  two  gen.  depending  on  each  other;    cf. 
70  init.  —  initium  bello:    a  favorite  use  of   the  dat.  with  Tac.; 
cf.  2,   1  initia  .  .  .  imperio;  4,  19  causam  seditioni;   Ann.  2,  21 
finem  bello;   ib.  64  fin.  causas  bello;    Hist.  2,  19  sedem  bello;   3, 
8    quae     sedes     bello    legeretur.  —  unaetvicensimae :     cf.    on     61 
ducebat.  —  rapuerant:   i.e.  before   Caecina  reached  Vindonissa. — 
castelU:    cf.  on  locus,  below;  the  nearness  of  the  German  frontier 
accounts  for  the   castellum,  garrisoned  and  maintained  by  the 
Helvetii.  —  olim:   for  the  mg.  cf.  on  60  olim.  —  tuebantur:   with 
the  usual  mg.    (with  militibus)  is  combined  that  of  maintained 
(with  stipendiis) ;  cf.  above,  hausit.    Cf .  Ann.  3,  54  nos  .  .  .  nemora 
nostraeque   villae  tuebuntur;     Germ.    14    tueare.  —  epistulis  =  lit- 
teris;    i.e.  a  single  letter,  as  often  in  Tac.  and  Pliny's  Ep.;    cf. 
2,  54  fin.,  55  fin.,  64,  etc.  —  municipii:   i.e.  the  vicus  had  grown 
and  prospered,  until  it  might  be  mistaken  for  a  municipium.  — 
locus  =  Aquae  Helvetiorum,  or  vicus  Aquensis,  now  Baden,  east 
of  Vindonissa.     The  Roman  interest  in  watering-places  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  the  Antonine  Itinerary  contains  the  names  of 
more  than  thirty   Aquae,  and  seventy  others  are  known  from 
inscrr.,  etc.  —  amoeno:  adds  the  idea  of  the  picturesque  situation. 
—  Raetica  auxilia:  cf.  59  fin. 

68.  feroces:    cf.  on  59  ferox;   a  common  characteristic  of  the 
Celts;    cf.  Caesar,    E.G.  3,   19,  6  ad  bella  suscipienda  Gallorum 


160  NOTES 

alacer  ac  promptus  est  animus.  —  quanquam:  with  ind.,  uncom- 
mon in  Tac.;  cf.  2,  92  fin.  —  Claudium:  many  provincials  in 
Gaul  and  the  Rhine  provinces  bore  the  emperor  Claudius'  name. 
The  popularity  of  Julius  Caesar  was  shown  in  the  same  way; 
cf.  68  fin.  lulium  Alpinum;  69  Claudius  Cossus;  4,  13  lulius 
Civilis;  33,  55,  etc.  —  non  anna  noscere  =  armis  uti  nescire.  — 
ordines  sequi:  cf.  Germ.  30  nosse  ordines.  —  in  unum:  cf.  4,  70 
in  unum  consulere;  2,  5  in  medium  consuluere;  Agr.  12  in  com- 
mune non  consulunt.  —  veteranos:  the  modern  use  of  the  word; 
not  in  the  strict  sense.  —  obsidio:  from  the  standpoint  of  the 
besieged.  —  inde  :  preferred  by  Tac.  to  illinc  as  correlative  to  hinc; 
cf.  84  hinc  .  .  .  inde;  2,  6,  15,  etc.  —  Raeticae:  cf.  59  fin. — iuventus: 
i.e.  militia.  —  exercita  =  trained,  drilled;  cf .  2,  4  exercitae  bello.  — 
medio:  between  the  legion  and  the  forces  from  Raetia;  on  the  omis- 
sion of  in,  cf.  3,  16  vacuum  media  relinquit  Her;  Ann.  1,  64  medio 
montium  et  paludum.  —  vagi:  to  avoid  the  monotony  of  vagantes 
.  .  .  palantes.  Cf.  Sail.  lug.  18,  2  vagi  palantes;  Liv.  5,  44,  5 
vagique  per  agros  palantur;  21,  61,  2  vagos  palantisque  per  agros. 

—  mons  Vocetius :  now  Bozberg,  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  Jura. 

—  cohorte  Thracum:    several  cohorts  of  Thracians  on  the  Rhine 
are  known  from  inscriptions;    one  had  its  station  at  Neuwied.  — 
sub  corona:   cf.  Caelius  Sabinus  (the  jurist)  ap.  Gell.  6,  4,  3  anti- 
quitus  mancipia  iure  belli  capta  coronis  induta  veniebant  et  idcirco 
dicebantur  "sub  corona"  venire;    Ann.  13,  39  fin.;    Livy  5,  22,  1, 
etc. — Aventicum:  now  Avenches,  near  the  Lake  of  Morat;  chief 
town  of  the  Tigurini;  cf.  on  67  init.  olim.  —  concitorem:    cf.  4,  56 
and  Ann.  4,  28  concitores  belli. 

69.  civitatis:  i.e.  Aventicum;  cf.  54  init.  —  verbis  ac  minis: 
not  necessarily  hendiadys;  Vitellius  no  doubt  mingled  reproaches 
with  threats.  —  temperabat:  here  with  dat.  of  that  from  which 
one  refrains;  cf.  3,  53  sermonibus;  Ann.  13,  3  risui;  14,  37  neci; 
the  class,  constr.  a  and  abl.,  above,  63  ab  excidio;  2,  88  ab  in- 
noxiis;  cf .  on  2,  47  felicitati.  —  cum :  cf .  on  29  cum  adfertur.  — 
notae  facundiae:  for  the  gen.  qual.  connected  directly  with  the 
name,  cf.  4,  15  stolidae  audaciae  Brinno,  claritate  natalium  in- 
signi;  49  Valerius  Festus,  sumptuosae  adulescentiae.  In  this  Tac. 
followed  Livy;  e.g.  4,  41,  12;  21,  1,  4;  22,  60,  5.  Isolated  ex- 
amples occur  in  Nepos  and  Caes.  (e.g.  E.G.  5,  35,  7).  For  the 


BOOK  I 

turn:  cf.  Cie.'s  studia  iuvcntutis  =  interested  young  men,  Calo  M.28; 
cf.  17  publica  expectatio.  —  exarsere:  after  prope  it  was  unneces- 
sary to  write  exarsissent.  —  animadversione  =  supplicio.  —  im- 
peril =  authority;  gen.  dn-6  KOIVOV  with  oblitos  and  admonuisset. 
—  Aeduos:  cf.  on  51  Aeduis.  —  Lugudunenses:  cf.  on  ib.  Lugu- 
dunensis.  —  gaudio:  in  Gaul  and  Germany  Vitellius,  having 
claimed  the  throne  before  the  death  of  Galba,  was  considered 
the  avenger  of  Nero.  Elsewhere  Otho  profited  by  the  same  re- 
action.—  Italica:  cf.  on  59  Italica.  —  ala:  cf.  ib.  —  duodevicen- 
simam:  for  about  fifty  years  at  least  the  garrison  of  Lugudunum 
had  consisted  of  a  single  cohort  of  a  thousand  men  (Ann.  13,  41; 
21  A.D.;  1200  men  in  Josephus  B.  I.  2,  16,  4),  stationed  there 
partly  on  account  of  the  mint  (moneta,  cf.  on  51).  Cf.  the  tomb- 
stone (found  at  Vichy)  of  a  soldier  COH  (ortis).  xvn  •  LVGVDVNI- 
ENSIS •  AD  •  MONETAM  (CIL.  XIII,  1499).  By  the  year  69  the  17th 
cohort  had  been  transferred  to  Ostia  (below,  80),  and  the  18th  had 
come  in  its  place.  They  were  probably  reckoned  among  the  co- 
hortes  urbanae,  of  which  three  only  were  stationed  at  Rome.  — 
solitis  sibi:  cf.  Ann.  3,  51  Tiberius  solitis  sibi  ambagibus;  Hist. 
4,  23  machinas  etiam,  insolitum  sibi,  ausi.  —  T.  Manlius  Valens:  as 
legatus  of  a  legion  in  Britain  he  was  defeated  A.D.  50  (  Ann.  12, 
40).  At  the  age  of  90  he  became  cos.  in  96. 

65.  Viennenses:  Vienna  (Vienne)  on  the  Rhone  below  Lyons 
the  chief  town  of  the  Allobroges.  Even  in  the  time  of  Claudius 
it  was  ornatissima  colonia  valentissimaque  Viennensium,  as  that 
emperor  himself  describes  it  in  an  oration  preserved  in  part  on 
a  bronze  tablet  at  Lyons  (CIL.  XIII,  1668).  Vienne  was  the 
seat  of  the  senatorial  governor  of  Gall.  Narb.  —  bellum:  the  up- 
rising headed  by  Vindex,  governor  of  Gall.  Lugud.;  cf.  on  6  and 
8.  Lyons  remained  loyal  to  Nero. — in  vicem:  attributive  posi- 
tion; cf.  Agr.  24  magnis  in  vicem  usibus;  Germ.  37  multa  in 
vicem  damna.  —  crebrius  infestiusque:  the  ellipsis  of  fieri  (here 
factae  erant),  agere,  etc.  was  frequent  in  letters,  rare  in  the  his- 
torians, except  Tac.;  cf.  36  omnia  serviliter,  and  note  ad  loc;  84 
v»s  quidem  istud  pro  me;  Agr.  19  nihil  per  libertos.  —  propter: 
the  only  occurrence  of  causal  propter  in  Tac.,  except  Dial.  21; 
on  the  other  hand  he  does  not  use  his  favorite  ob  of  persons.  — 
irae:  i.e.  to  satisfy  his  anger;  obj.  gen.;  or  like  60  occasion* 


158  NOTES 

civilium  armorum,  subj.  gen.  —  discretis:  Vienne  is  on  the  left 
bank,  while  Roman  Lyons  was  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Sa6ne, 
directly  opposite  the  tongue  of  land  between  Rhone  and  Sa6ne. 
The  cities  were  in  reality  16  miles  apart,  but  fact  is  sacrificed  to 
epigram.  Note  the  chiasmus  and  antithesis.  —  conexum  odium: 
i.e.  a  link  of  hatred.  —  nuper  =  more  recently;  i.e.  after  the  fall  of 
Vindex.  —  externa:  supporting  Vindex  could  be  made  to  appear 
evidence  of  anti-Roman  feeling.  —  coloniam :  Vienne  was  also  a 
Roman  colony  (cf.  66),  but  of  more  recent  organization  as 
such  (Caligula,  Claudius),  than  Lyons  (43  B.C.,  Octavian).  —  par- 
tem  exercitus:  Lyons  alone  among  Gallic  towns  had  a  Roman 
garrison;  cf.  on  64.  —  contra  daret:  as  the  judge,  who  decides 
in  favor  of  one  of  the  parties  was  said  secundum  aliquem  dare, 
fortune  here  gives  an  unfavorable  decision;  the  same  phrase, 
Ann.  15,  13. 

66.  in  eundem  modum:  attributive;  Tac.'s  usual  phrase  is 
his  atque  talibus;  cf.  2,  2;  1,  16  fin.  —  cum:  cf.  on  29  cum  adfer- 
tur.  —  velamenta  et  infulas:  olive  branches  wound  with  woolen 
fillets;  cf.  Verg.  Aen.  11,  101  velati  ramis  oleae  veniamque  rogan- 
tes;  7,  154  ramis'velatos  Palladis;  Plaut.  Amph.  257  velatis  mani- 
bus  orant.  —  vestigia:  substituted  for  pedes  partly  for  reasons  of 
euphony;  note  the  crescendo  effect.  —  turn  =  turn  demum;  after 
their  humiliation;  cf.  82.  —  vetustas,  etc.:  cf.  on  65  init. — 
aequis:  cf.  pronis  auribus  1  and  54. — publice:  i.e.  as  a  com- 
munity; cf.  51  publice  donatos.  —  promiscuis  =  of  every  kind; 
omit  et  in  translating.  —  fama  constans:  cf.  Agr.  43  constans 
rumor.  —  inopi  iuventa:  causal  abl.;  or  circumstantial  abl. 
illogically  connected  with  senex  prodigus  for  the  sake  of  the 
chiasmus.  —  Allobroges:  their  territory  was  partly  inclosed  (in- 
sula  Allobrogum)  between  the  Rhone  and  the  Isere,  but  extended 
also  to  the  Lake  of  Geneva  and  Mt.  Blanc;  chief  towns  Vienna, 
Cularo  (Grenoble),  Genava  (Geneva).  —  Vocontii:  south  of 
Grenoble,  chiefly  in  the  mountains  of  southern  Dauphin6;  prin- 
cipal towns  Vasio  (Vaison)  and  Lucus  (v.  below).  —  stativorum: 
it  was  a  lentum  agmen,  lingering  in  stativa,  until  sufficient  induce- 
ments tempted  them  to  move  on.  —  adversus:  unusual  for  cum, 
when  the  phrase  modifies  a  subst.  —  minaciter:  join  with  ven- 
ditante;  his  bargaining  was  not  without  threats  of  violence.  — 


BOOK  I  155 

(Mons  Vocetius,  68),  to  Windisch  (Vindonissa;  cf.  on  1,  9;  4, 
61,  70),  up  the  Aar,  and  past  the  Lake  of  Morat,  via  Avenches 
(Aventicum,  68),  to  the  Lake  of  Geneva  at  Vevey  (Viviscus);  up 
the  Rhone  to  Martigny  (Octodurus),  over  the  Great  St.  Bernard 
pass  (Alpis  Poenina,  2428  metres),  and  down  via  Aosta  (Augusta 
Praetoria).  Distance,  Mainz  to  Milan,  ca.  460  Roman  miles.  — 
elect! :  i.e.  &vexillum  each  from  the  1st,  XVth,  and  XVIth  legions. — 
aquila:  here  by  meton.  for  the  main  body;  cf.  the  use  of  vexil- 
lum,  e.g.  31  fin.;  2,  89  aquilae  .  .  .  vexilla  .  .  .  signa. —  quin- 
tae:  from  Vetera;  cf.  on  9.  —  cohortibus:  cf.  60  fin.  —  data: 
takes  its  gender  from  the  appositive;  cf .  86  fin.  —  ducebat: 
strictly  speaking,  not  until  he  had  passed  Vindonissa,  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Reuss  with  the  Aar,  the  station  of  XXI  (cf.  on  9;  2, 
43).  In  addition  to  this  legion  he  had  detachments  from  the 
IVth  and  XXIId  legions  at  Moguntiacum.  The  rest  of  XXII  evi- 
dently went  to  Italy  with  Vitellius;  cf.  on  2,  57  Germanici 
exercitus.  —  tota  mole  belli:  cf.  2,  16  tanta  mole  belli;  74,  100. 
The  phrase  represents  rather  the  potential  than  the  actual  strength 
of  Vitellius'  third  army;  it  would  be  impossible  to  withdraw  all 
the  troops  from  Germany  and  Britain;  cf.  2,  32. 

62.  instare:  the  eagerness  of  the  soldiers  is  reproduced  in  the 
animated  style  of  this  sentence,  —  hist,  infin.,  primary  sequence 
(except  esset),  abrupt  lapse  into  indirect  quotation  (at  dum,  etc.). 
All  this  in  contrast  with  the  leaden  torpebat  Vitellius.  —  cuncten- 
tur:  for  the  sudden  defection  of  Spain,  cf.  76.  —  hiemem:  Caecina 
did  cross  hibernis  adhuc  Alpibus,  but  not  in  January;  70  fin. — 
moras:  i.e.  inertia.  —  occupandam:  cf.  on  39  occupanda. — for- 
tunam  =  high  rank;  cf.  10  fin.  —  praesumebat  =  enjoyed  in  advance; 
cf.  Agr.  18  praesumpta  .  .  .  quies. — medio  diei:  the  freq.  use  in 
Tac.  of  neut.  subst.  with  gen.;  cf.  3,  11  init.;  2,  53  medio  temporis; 
2,  14  fin.  obscurum  noctis.  —  sagina:  contemptuous;  cf.  2,  71  luxu 
et  saginae  mancipatus  emptusque  (of  Vitellius);  95  fin.  —  cum 
tamen:  cum,  with  imperf.  in  both  clauses,  marks  the  coincidence, 
tamen  the  contradiction.  —  ultro:  cf.  on  7  ultra.  —  munia:  the 
form  regularly  preferred  by  Tac.  in  this  mg.  —  addito:  aoristic; 
cf.  on  20  relicta.  Formally  the  senate  alone  could  confer  the 
title.  —  Caesarem:  he  also  declined  at  first  the  title  Augustus; 
2,  62,  90.  —  prohibuit:  with  ace.  and  pass,  infin.  even  in  Cic. 


156  NOTES 

and  Caes.  —  augurium:  this  kind  of  nom.  apposition  is  to  be 
distinguished  from  the  ace.  apposition,  for  which  cf.  on  44  muni- 
mentum;  the  former  allows  greater  freedom  of  position;  cf.  4, 
57  flagitium  incognitum;  Ann.  2,  17  pulcherrimum  augurium.  — • 
profectionis:  i.e.  from  Cologne.  —  meatu  =  volatu.  —  incederet: 
cf.  on  10  vacaret. 

63.  Et  .  .  .  quidem:  i.e.  the  omen  had  immediate  fulfillment; 
cf.  8.  —  Treveros:  cf.  on  53  Treveri.  —  Divodurum  =  Metz,  which 
is  derived  from  Mediomatrici,  corrupted  into  Mettis  as  early  as  the 
sixth  century  (Venant.  Fort.);  next  to  Treves  the  most  important 
place  in  the  Moselle  valley.  —  quanquam:  cf.  on  43  quanquam.  — 
raptis:    cf.  Intr.  7;    the  very  loose  abl.  abs.  displaces  a  result 
clause  (adeo  terruit,  ut,  etc.).  —  ob  praedam  .  .  .  cupidine:   on  the 
variety  cf.   Intr.  13.  —  et  causis  incertis:    et  does  not  exactly  cor- 
respond with  the  preceding  et  (which  rather  =  -que);    cf.  on  57 
fin.  instinctu.  —  eoque:    the  use  of  -que  between  ablative  phrases 
which  we  place  in  quite  different  categories  shows  that  Tac.  drew 
no  such  hard  and  fast  lines.  —  cum  magistratibus  et  precibus: 
may  be  taken  as  hendiadys  (  =  cum  magistratibus  deprecantibus) ; 
but  it  is  unlikely  that  Tac.  meant  to  limit  the  preces  to  the  magis- 
trates;  and  elsewhere  he  pairs  things  which  do  not  strictly  admit 
of  such  treatment;    cf.  2,  3  precibus  et  igne  puro;   3,  22  per  iram 
ac  tenebras,  etc.  —  quaeque  .  .  .  tendebantur:   for  the  loose  con- 
nection of  this  type  of  clause  with  a  preceding  abl.  abs.  cf.  2,  4 
init.  —  placamenta:    i.e.   other  gifts,  and  olive-branches,  fillets, 
etc.;    cf.  66  velamenta  et  infulas  praeferentes. 

64.  imperio  =  accession:   cf.  on  4  imperil.  —  civitas  Leucorum 
=  Tullum,  now  Toul,  on  the    upper    Moselle,  west    of    Nancy. 

The  Leuci  occupied  the  territory  south  of  the  Mediomatrici,  north 
of  the  Lingones,  i.e.  west  of  the  Vosges  Mts.  —  accepit:  the  news 
must  have  reached  this  part  of  Gaul  within  twelve  to  fifteen 
days;  the  date  is  then  about  the  end  of  January.  —  in  gaudium: 
for  the  variety,  —  prep,  phrase  and  abl.,  cf.  Intr.  13.  —  volve- 
bat:  cf.  54  fin.  volvens.  —  ex  Vitellio:  cf.  Agr.  16  ex  legato  timor; 
2,  67  e  praetoriis  cohortibus  metus  erat;  classical  metus,  etc.  ab 
aliquo.  —  Lingonum  civitas:  now  Langres;  cf.  on  54  init.  —  mo- 
destia:  cf.  on  60  modestia.  —  cohortium:  the  Batavians  of  59.  — • 
supra:  59.  —  iurgia:  subj.  of.  exarsere,  no  ellipsis.  —  studia  mili- 


BOOK  I  153 

gave  the  Germans  an  able  leader  in  the  serious  war  which  broke 
out  this  same  year,  and  was  put  down  by  Vespasian  in  70;  cf. 
4,  13  et  passim.  —  periculo:  dat.;  cf.  2,  93  periculo  exemisset;  3, 
4  discrimini  exemptum;  3,  10  fin.;  the  class,  constr.  was  abl.  with 
ex  or  de  (simple  abl.  also  in  Livy).  —  Batavi:  at  the  mouths  of 
the  Rhine;  cf.  4,  12.  —  ferox  =  warlike,  eager  for  battle;  cf.  68 
feroces;  2,  43  ferox;  Britain  is  a  ferox  provincia  in  Agr.  8.  —  et 
=  et  sane,  as  34;  i.e.  such  regard  for  the  Batavians  had  its  ob- 
vious explanation.  —  civitate  Lingonum:  cf.  on  53.  —  Batavorum 
cohortes:  after  long  service  in  Germany  they  were  sent  to  Britain 
by  Nero  just  after  the  revolt  of  Boadicea  in  61;  cf.  4,  12;  Ann. 
14,  38.  They  join  Valens  on  his  southward  march  through  Gaul; 
cf.  64;  2,  27,  66,  69. —  quartae  decumae:  it  had  shared  in  the  con- 
quest of  Britain  by  Claudius,  and  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion 
of  61;  recalled  with  the  Batavian  auxiliaries  by  Nero,  68;  was  in 
Dalmatia  at  the  time  of  his  death,  or  soon  after;  part  of  the 
legion  fought  for  Otho  at  Bedriacum;  sent  back  to  Britain  by 
Vitellius;  cf.  Ann.  14,  34;  Hist.  1,  64;  2,  11,  27,  43,  66,  etc.  - 
inclinassent:  not  subjv.  of  repeated  action  (cf.  on  10  vacaret), 
but  an  informal  ind.  discourse,  representing  the  fut.  perf.  indie, 
in  the  mind  of  Vitellius,  as  he  weighs  the  chances;  in  lieu  of  a 
principal  clause  we  have  merely  apposition  (momentum);  cf.  76 
and  2,  86  grande  momentum.  —  supra:  i.e.  56.  —  fidei  cr inline: 
cf.  71  servatae  .  .  .  fidei  crimen.  —  desciscentes :  cf.  31  fidus  .  .  . 
et  desciscentibus  suspectior.  —  Valerius  Asiaticus:  cos.  designatus 
in  Dec.  of  this  year  (4,  4);  an  inscription  seems  to  show  that  he 
died  before  entering  upon  his  office  (GIL.  VI,  1528).  He  was 
probably  son  of  the  Valerius  Asiaticus  who  owned  the  gardens  of 
Lucullus  (Pincian),  and  was  forced  to  suicide  by  Claudius;  cf. 
Ann.  11,  1,  3.  —  generum:  the  daughter  in  question  afterwards 
received  an  ample  dowry  and  a  husband  of  rank  from  Vespasian; 
cf.  75  fin.;  Suet.  Vesp.  14.  —  lunius  Blaesus:  he  received  Vitellius 
in  state,  2,  59;  poisoned  in  the  autumn  of  this  year,  69,  through 
the  machinations  of  Vitellius'  brother,  3,  38  f .  —  rector  =  gov- 
ernor, —  a  broad,  non-technical  term;  formally  he  was  legatus 
Augusti  pro  praetore.  —  Italica:  prima  Italica,  a  legion  organized 
by  Nero,  and  with  the  ala  Tauriana  temporarily  stationed  at 
Lyons;  cf.  on  51  Lugudunensis;  also  64,  74;  2,  41.  —  Tauriana: 


154  NOTES 

doubtless  owed  its  name  to  a  Statilius  Taurus;  cf.  Ann.  12,  59. 
—  tendentibus:  cf.  31  tendentes.  —  Raeticis:  cf.  68  Raeticae  alae 
cohortesque;  cf.  on  11  Raetia.  —  ne  .  .  .  quidem  =  also  not,  not 
.  .  .  either;  cf.  on  29  fin.  —  dubitatum:  i.e.  the  legions  in  Britain 
promptly  took  the  sacramentum  to  Vitellius. 

60.  M.  Trebellius  Maximus:  colleague  of  the  philosopher  Seneca 
as  cos.  suff.  in  56  (or  55);   engaged  in  a  census  in  Gaul  in  61  (Ann. 
14,  46);   governor  of  Britain,  63-69;  in  the  Agr.  16  Tac.  describes 
his  administration  in  rather  more  favorable  terms.  —  per,  etc. : 
i.e.  the  means  by  which  he  had  won  the  contempt  and  hatred  of 
the  soldiers;    an  innovation  upon  the  usual  expression  of  cause 
with  propter  (ob  in  Tac.;   cf.  on  65  propter).  —  M.  Roscius  Coelius: 
cos.   suff.  81;   his  successor  in  Britain  was  Tac.'s  father-in-law; 
Agr.    7   fin.  —  vicensimae :     cf.    on    9     Britannico.  —  olim  =  for 
some  time;    cf.  67  quod  olim  Helvetii,  etc.;    2,  7  olim  mixtis  con- 
siliis;    92   olim   anxii   odiis;    Agr.    3    res   olim   dissociabiles    (i.e. 
from  time  immemorial).  — proruperant:    the  other  party,  Trebel- 
lius, had  been  suggested  by  discors.  —  spoliatas:   cf.  per  avaritiam, 
above.  —  cum  interim:   a  special  type  of  cum  inversum,   cf.  on  29 
cum    adfertur.  —  modestia  =  discipline,   good    order;    cf .    on    52 
modesti;   64  modestia  certavere;  83  modestia;   2,  27  init.  ad  modes- 
tiam.  —  eoque  discordiae  :   cf.  16  eo  necessitatis.  — •  cohortibus  :  i.e. 
of   auxiliaries;   cf.    54,   61    cohortihus  alisque;   68  and  2,    11    alae 
cohortesque.  —  perfugerit:  cf.  on  55  iecerint.  —  quanquam:  cf.  on  43 
quanquam.  —  consulari:  cf.  9  sine  consulari  [sc.  legato].     Vitellius 
sent  Vettius  Bolanus  in  place  of  Trebellius;  2,  65. 

61.  adiuncto:   figuratively,   connecting  with   59  fin.,   since  60 
is  a  digression.     Only  detachments  (vexilla)  actually  came  from 
Britain;    cf.  2,  57;    3,  22.  —  Cottianis  Alpibus:    usually  Cottiis. 
The  longer  route  was  via  Treves  (cf.  53),  up  the  Moselle  valley, 
past  Metz   (63),  Toul   (64);    then  via  Langres   (54)  and  Dijon 
(Dibio)  to  the  Sa6ne,  and  so  to  Lyons  (51);   down  the  Rhone  to 
Valence  (Valentia);   up  the  Dr6me  and  the  Durance  to  the  pass, 
Mt.  Genevre  (Alpis  Cottia,  later  Matrona,  1860  metres),  and  down 
to  Turin  (Augusta  Taurinorum).      Distance,  Cologne  to  Turin,  ca. 
690  Roman  miles.  —  inrumpere:   cf.  on  40  irrumpunt.  —  Poeninis 
iugis:    the  usual  route  from  Germany  led  up  the  Rhine  to  Basel 
(Augusta  Rauricorum),  thence  over  the  eastern  end  of  the  Jura 


BOOK  I  151 

menti  reverentia  (on  this  same  occasion);  Germ.  29  imperil  reve- 
rentiam.  —  exuere:  cf.  3,  5  ne  .  .  .  ius  fasque  exuerent.  —  senatus 
populique:  cf.  12  senatui  ac  populo  Romano  arbitrium  eligendi  per- 
mittere.  —  ut  in  tumultu:  cf.  on  4  ut  erga  principem:  8  tanquam 
.  .  ,  multitudine.  —  suggestu:  usually  with  pro,  de,  or  e,  but  if  the 
text  is  correct,  Tac.  has  preferred  to  match  the  prep,  phrase  in 
modum  by  simple  abl.;  cf.  Ann.  3,  5  fin.  toro;  14,  20  theatro;  16, 
5  sedilibus;  Dial  13  fin.  tumulo;  Intr.  13.  —  cui  inputaretur  = 
whom  they  could  lay  under  obligations;  cf.  on  38  mihi  plurimum 
inputet. 

56.  consularis:    the  word   emphasizes  the  fact  that  he  was 
commander  of  both  legions,  as  governor  of  the  province  —  an 
officer  of  the  highest  rank,  but  only  spectator  flagitii.  —  ruentes 
.  .  .  dubios  .  .  .  bonos:   anticlimax  in  form,  but  a  climax  of  con- 
demnation for  Hordeonius.  —  et:    cf.  on  51  fin.  et.  —  prioris  sac- 
ramenti:  to  Galba,  administered  by  Verginius    Rufus,    June,  68. 
—  unde  =  a  qua  parte;  from  the  expression   ab  aliquo  stare  =  to 
stand  up  for  a  man  (take  sides  for  him)  comes  the  use  of  unde,  etc., 
with  stare  and  esse;   cf.  Livy  21,  10,  9  unde  ius  stabat,  ei  victoriam 
dedit;   id.  24,  45,  3  aliunde  stet  semper,  aliunde  sentiat.     For  the 
omission  of    correlative  inde  cf.  3,  17;     4,  29.  — fuere:    note  the 
effect  of  the  tense  after    erant.  —  colonia  Agrippinensis :    capital 
of  Germania   Inferior  =  Cologne,  Koln.      The  younger  Agrippina, 
who  was   born  there  during  the  German  campaigns  of  her  father, 
Germanicus,  induced  her  husband,  Claudius,  to  establish  a  colony 
of  veterans  at  Oppidum  Ubiorum  A.D.  50,  and  gave  her  name  to 
the  new  city;    Ann.   12,  27;    Hist.  4,  20,  25,  etc.  —  aquilifer:    he 
had  120  miles  to  cover  between  Mainz  and  Cologne.  —  occupari: 
cf.   on   39   occupanda.  —  legiones:     i.e.    inferioris  Germaniae,   at 
Bonna  (57),  Novaesium,  and  Vetera  (on  9).  —  proinde:  cf.  on  21 
proinde. — minore  discrimine:    emphatic,  —  it  was  less  dangerous; 
cf.  2,  46  maiore  animo  tolerari.  —  sumi:    i.e.  to  take  some  one 
ready  to  hand,  which  could  mean  only  Vitellius. 

57.  hiberna:    at  Bonna  (Bonn);    the  camp  was  just  north  of 
the  modern  city.  —  Valens:   he  was  now  legatus  of  the  1st  legion; 
cf.  on  52.  —  cum  equitibus  legionis:   the  120  cavalrymen  attached 
regularly  to  the  legion;     his   auxiliary  cavalry  would   be  more 
numerous;  cf .  Josephus  B.  I.  3,  6,  2. — speciosis:  cf .  34  speciosiora. 


152  NOTES 

—  scires:  cf.  on  10  laudares. — penes  =  at  the  disposal  of,  under 
the  orders  of;  res  publica  is  personified.  —  Agrippinenses :  cf.  on 
56.  —  Treveri,  etc.:  cf.  on  53.  —  ingenio  =  ability,  in  various 
directions,  —  any  kind  of  available  talent,  executive,  inventive, 
etc.  —  ex  affluent!:  used  as  pred.;  cf.  3,  49  satis  factum  bello 
ratus  et  cetera  ex  facili  (sc.  fore);  cf.  Agr.  15  ex  facili,  used  as 
simple  adv.,  and  so  ex  aequo  frequently,  e.g.  2,  77.  —  viatica:  i.e. 
savings.  —  balteos  =  shoulder  belts,  over  the  left  shoulder,  sup- 
porting the  sword  at  the  right  side;  often  adorned  with  silver 
bullae,  etc.,  and  given  as  rewards  of  valor.  —  phaleras:  large  disks 
of  silver,  with  heads,  etc.,  in  relief.  If  a  soldier  had  received 
several  of  these  decorations,  he  wore  them  on  a  kind  of  harness 
across  the  breast;  also  used  on  the  trappings  of  horses.  —  in- 
signia: apposition  with  balteos,  phaleras.  —  decora  =  ornata. — 
instinctu,  etc. :  the  first  et  connects  a  pair  of  synonyms,  the  second 
after  a  slight  pause,  and  with  an  unexpected  sarcasm,  adds  a 
further  motive,  in  some  cases,  i.e.  cool  calculation  of  large 
returns  from  their  present  investment. 

58.  igitur:  cf.  on  15  igitur. — ministeria:  Vitellius,  having  no 
body  of  freedmen  trained  in  accounts  and  affairs,  was  forced  to 
make  an  innovation  which  was  not  regularly  adopted  by  his  suc- 
cessors until  Hadrian.  In  Claudius'  reign  the  imperial  freedmen, 
Narcissus,  Pallas,  etc.,  were  virtually  ministers,  or  cabinet  secre- 
taries, each  with  his  special  department  (a  rationibus,  ab  epis- 
tulis,  etc.).  —  vacationes:  the  policy  of  Otho  too;  cf.  46. — 
plerosque  =  multos:  cf.  on  5  plerisque.  —  Simula tione :  Otho  had 
done  the  same,  45  fin.,  71.  —  Pompeius  Propinquus:  his  offense 
was  that  he  had  been  the  first  to  inform  Galba  of  the  events  of 
Jan.  1  at  Mainz;  cf.  12.  —  procurator:  cf.  on  2  fin.  procurations ;  a 
Cornelius  Tacitus,  perhaps  the  father  of  the  historian,  had  held 
this  office  in  Gallia  Belgica;  Plin.  N.H.  7,  76;  Intr.  1.  —  classis: 
the  Rhine  fleet  was  first  organized  by  Drusus,  12  B.C.,  and  had 
played  an  important  part  in  the  campaigns  of  Tiberius  and  Ger- 
manicus.  —  tanquam:  cf.  on  8  tanquam  .  .  .  fovissent.  —  Fon- 
teio:  cf.  8.  —  occidere  .  .  .  licebat:  cf.  45  fin.,  of  Otho's  similar 
embarrassment.  —  sanguine:  is  is  omitted  for  reasons  of  euphony 
at  the  beginning;  cf.  2,  86  prima  iuventa. 

69.   lulius  Civilis:  the  politic  mercy  of  Vitellius  unexpectedly 


BOOK  I  149 

death  as  a  prisoner  at  Urbinum,  3,  62.  —  tanquam:  cf.  on  8  tan- 
quam  .  .  .  fovissent.  —  detectam  a  se  =  his  disclosure  of,  etc.,  and 
similarly  oppressa;  Intr.  11.  —  cunctationetn:  cf.  8  nee  statim, 
etc.  —  instigare:  cf.  on  46  fatigari.  —  ipsum:  sc.  Vitellium. — • 
Flaccus:  cf.  on  9.  —  male:  cf.  on  17  fin.  male.  —  precarium:  not 
precarious,  but  held  on  sufferance;  those  who  gave  (i.e.  the  legions) 
could  also  take  away.  The  expression  is  from  the  Roman  law, 
which  recognized  in  precarium  a  specific  form  of  loan  or  lease 
that  could  be  recalled  at  will,  as  being  a  matter  of  pure  benevo- 
lence. Cf.  Dig.  43,  26,  1,  2  qui  precario  concedit,  sic  dat  quasi 
tune  recepturus,  cum  sibi  libuerit  precarium  solvere.  —  sinum:  cf. 
3,  69  in  Vespasiani  sinum.  —  equestri  familia:  without  the 
virum  or  hominem  of  classical  usage,  cf.  53  scito  sermone;  so  the 
gen.  qual.  69  notae  facundiae  (cf.  note).  —  patris  consulatus,  etc.: 
cf.  on  9.  —  dignationem:  cf.  on  19  dignationem.  —  his:  neut.; 
cf.  Tac.'s  formula  his  atque  talibus,  Agr.  16;  Ann.  11,  17,  24,  etc. 
—  concupisceret:  cf.  2,  76  quo  posses  videri  concupisse. 

53.  iuventa:  cf.  4,  1  procerum  .  .  .  iuventa;  the  word  is  always 
abstr.  in  Tac.,  while  iuventus  is  concrete.  —  animi:  this  loc.  gen. 
is  freq.  in  Tac.  (found  also  in  Sail,  and  Liv.);  cf.  2,  23  promptus 
animi;  3,  58  aeger  animi;  Ann.  1,  69  ingens  animi.  —  scito  = 
clever;  cf.  Ann.  6,  20  scitum  .  .  .  dictum  (of  a  bon  mot).  — 
iuvenem:  predicate  apposition.  —  Baetica:  the  southern,  and 
most  thoroughly  Romanized,  province  in  Spain,  governed  by  a 
proconsul;  chief  cities  Corduba  (Cordova),  Gades  (Cadiz),  His- 
palis  (Seville).  —  compertum  .  .  .  avertisse:  for  the  constr.  cf. 
Ann.  4,  22  accusata  iniecisse;  ib.  31  convictus  pecuniam  .  .  . 
cepisse;  so  Sail.,  Livy.  —  passus:  used  absolutely;  but  67  aegre 
id  passi.  —  miscere  cuncta:  cf.  2,  23  fin.;  4,  29  misceri  cuncta; 
Dial.  36  mixtis  omnibus.  —  universus:  cf.  51  contractae  legiones, 
etc.  —  vexillis:  cf.  on  31  vexiUa. — praeventus:  trans.;  cf.  5 
praeventam.  —  Treveri:  in  the  Moselle  valley;  chief  town  Augusta 
Treverorum  (Treves,  Trier),  one  of  the  most  important  cities  of 
Gallia  Belgica,  in  the  4th  century  a  capital  of  the  empire.  — 
Lingones:  west  of  the  upper  Sa6ne  (Arar),  about  the  sources  of 
the  Seine  and  Marne  (Sequana  and  Matrona);  chief  town  An- 
dematunnum  (Langres,  mediev.  Langoinne),  on  the  through  road 
from  the  Rhine  via  Treves  to  Lyons.  —  atrocibus:  i.e.  threatening; 


150  NOTES 

cf.  2,  40  fin.  —  damno  finium:  cf.  8  finibus  ademptis.  —  miscen- 
tur:  of  dealings  or  relations  with,  etc.;  cf.  74  antequam  legionibus 
miscerentur.  —  paganos  =  civilians;  cf.  2,  88  adversus  paganos.  — • 
favor:  cf.  on  8  Verginius.  —  profuturus:  of  that  which  was 
naturally  to  be  expected;  cf.  11  fin.  cessurae  erant. 

54.  civitas:  i.e.  Andematunnum ;  cf.  on  53  Lingones;  cf.  64  in 
civitate  Leucorum;  ib.  proximo,  Lingonum  civitas.  —  dextras:  as  in 
2,  8  dextras,  concordiae  insignia;  clasped  hands,  in  bronze,  prob- 
ably. A  specimen  has  been  preserved  at  Lyons.  —  in  squalorem: 
cf.  Agr.  42  in  adrogantiam  compositus;  cf.  2,  9  in  maestitiam  com- 
positus.  —  principia:  cf.  on  48  principiis;  the  scene  of  this  story 
is  Moguntiacum  (Mainz),  cf.  on  9  init.  —  praemia:  cf.  on  8  re- 
centi,  and  51  remissam  .  .  .  publice  donatos.  —  pronis  .  .  .  auri- 
bus:  as  in  1  pronis  auribus.  —  cum:  on  the  cum  inversum  cf.  on 
29  cum  adfertur.  —  per  .  .  .  inscitiam:  darkness  and  ignorance 
on  the  part  of  their  commilitones  are  brought  together  under  the 
same  preposition  as  being  contributory  causes;  cf.  3,  22  per  iram 
ac  tenebras.  —  circumdatis:  this  arrangement  was  a  reversion  to 
the  older  camp  plan  as  described  by  Polybius.  The  legions  now 
commonly  surrounded  the  auxiliaries,  as  this  passage  shows. — 
volvens:  cf.  64  bellum  volvebat;  omitting  the  usual  animo,  in 
animo,  etc. 

65.  sollemni  =  customary;  the  sacramentum  was  renewed  each 
1st  Jan.  —  adactae:  adijere  was  the  term  for  administering  the 
oath;  it  was  done  by  the  highest  available  officers.  Cf.  76  Ves- 
pasianus  .  .  .  Mucianus  sacramento  .  .  .  adegere;  2,  55  (the  praefec- 
tus  urbi);  79  (governor  of  Egypt);  cf.  2,  14.  —  primorum  ordinum: 
probably  =  the  front  rows.  Others  understand  the  first  centurions 
(ten  to  each  legion).  The  former  interpretation  is  perhaps  favored 
by  raris.  Cf.  18  proximi  militum.  —  sequi:  a  kind  of  apposition  to 
natura;  cf.  2,  20  insita  mortalibus  natura  .  .  .  introspicere. — 
primani,  etc.:  for  the  stations  of  the  legions,  cf.  on  9  legiones; 
below,  57  init.  —  iecerint:  the  usual  neglect  of  tense-sequence  in 
a  result-clause;  cf.  60  perfugerit.  —  legiones:  on  the  plur.  cf.  on 
18  legiones.  —  hibernis:  cf.  on  9  exercitus;  54.  The  omission  of 
the  prep,  is  esp.  freq.  in  military  Latin;  cf.  2,  22  and  Agr.  25 
isdem  castris;  2,  45  isdem  tentoriis;  but  also  2,  50  celebri  luco.  — 
tendentes:  cf.  31  tendentes. — reverentiam:  cf.  12  rupta  sacra- 


BOOK  I  147 

him  a  worse  man  than  his  rival  in  infamy.  The  thought  was  per- 
haps a  Stoic  commonplace.  A  parallel  is  cited  from  Sen.  Ep. 
14,  13:  shall  it  be  Caesar  or  Pompey?  —  a  question  of  no  moment 
to  Cato:  quid  tua  [sc.  refert],  uter  vincat?  potest  melior  vincere, 
non  potest  non  peio*  esse,  qui  vicerit.  —  anna  Orientis:  cf.  2,  1 
arma  Vitellii;  Intr.  19.  —  ut  .  .  .  ita:  cf.  on  4  wi  ...  ita.  — 
ambigua:  for  his  avaritia,  cf.  2,  5;  Suet.  Vesp.  16  sola  est,  in  qua 
merito  culpetur,  pecuniae  cupiditas.  —  omnium,  etc. :  this  illogical 
inclusion  of  himself  among  those  with  whom  he  is  compared,  ap- 
pears to  have  arisen  from  a  misunderstanding  of  Homer's  w/cu- 
/Mpdiraros  &\\uv,  where  the  gen.  was  not  part,  but  ablatival, 
marking  "the  starting  point  of  the  comparison"  (Seymour  on 
II.  1,  505).  Cf.  Agr.  34  ceterorum  Britannorum  fugacissimi;  Mil- 
ton's "  fairest  of  her  daughters,"  and  two  similar  cases  in  the 
same  context,  P.L.  4,  321-324.  —  ante  se:  in  attributive  posi- 
tion; a  Graecism,  in  place  of  superiorum. 

51.  Vindex:  cf.  on  6.  —  ditissimi:  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of 
Gaul  in  this  period  were  almost  proverbial.  King  Agrippa  asked 
the  Jews  whether  they  thought  themselves  richer  than  the  Gauls; 
Josephus  B.  I.  2,  16,  4;  Mommsen  R.  P.  I,  115.  Nero  had  at 
first  rejoiced  ( ?)  at  the  news  of  Vindex'  revolt  as  an  opportunity 
spoliandarum  iure  belli  opulentissimarum  provinciarum,  Suet.  Nero 
40;  cf.  Ann.  3,  46;  11,  18.  —  aciem:  volebat  is  in  mind,  but  be- 
comes malebat  as  the  remainder  of  the  sentence  takes  on  a  dif- 
ferent form.  —  ingenio  =  natura;  even  of  things;  cf.  2,  4  ob  in- 
genium  montis.  —  supererant:  cf.  Germ.  26  et  superest  ager;  6 
ne  ferrum  quidem  superest;  below,  83  egregie  supersunt.  —  seque 
et:  freq.  in  Tac.,  usually  with  a  pronoun  for  the  first  term;  also 
in  Sail,  and  Livy;  cf.  Agr.  18  seque  et  arma.  —  quaerere:  cf.  on 
46  fatigari.  —  hostes:  sc.  Gallos  (from  Gallias).  —  deerat:  cf.  on 
22  fin.  deerat.  —  pars  Galliarum:  i.e.  esp.  the  Treveri  and  Lingones* 
53  fin.  —  instigatrix:  only  here  in  Tac.  —  Vindice  =  V indicia 
nomine;  i.e.  they  ceased  calling  them  Vindiciani  in  contempt.  — • 
indiderant:  sc.  Us.  —  Sequani:  their  territory  (later  included  in 
Upper  Germany)  lay  between  the  Arar  (Sa6ne)  and  the  Jura; 
capital  Visontio  (or  Vesontio)  =  BesanQon.  —  Aedui:  in  Gallia 
Lugudunensis,  west  of  the  Sequani,  between  the  Liger  (Loire)  and 
the  Arar;  capital  Augustodunum  =  Autun,  which  replaced 


148  NOTES 

Caesar's  Bibracte.  —  deinde:  instead  of  reliquis  or  ceteris.  —  rap- 
tus  penatium:  cf.  46  raptus.  —  super:  cf.  on  8  super.  —  publice: 
the  gifts  were  to  communities,  not  individuals;  cf.  66  publice 

.  .  multati.  —  in  ignominiam:  equiv.  to  a  purpose  clause;  cf. 
on  12  in  .  .  .  odium.  —  iactabant:  cf.  44  iactabant. —  vulgatum: 
the  neuter  subst.  takes  the  place  of  a  clause  (the  fact  that,  etc.), 
as  subj.  of  accessit.  —  Lugudunensis :  Lugudunum  (Lyons)  had 
many  reasons  for  attachment  to  the  Julian-Claudian  house.  It 
was  especially  favored  in  its  unique  position  as  capital  of  the 
three  Gauls;  had  a  mint,  and  a  garrison,  —  1200  men,  —  the  only 
troops  stationed  in  Gaul;  cf.  on  64;  Josephus  B.  I.  2,  16,  4; 
Strabo  4,  186,  192.  It  had  contributed  4,000,000  sest.  to  the 
rebuilding  of  Rome  after  the  fire  of  64,  and  had  received  from 
Nero  the  like  sum  in  65,  when  Lyons  had  suffered  in  the  same 
way  still  more  disastrously;  Ann.  16,  13;  Sen.  Ep.  91;  Mommsen 
R.  P.  I,  95  ff.  —  fecunda:  here  with  abl.,  as  in  2,  92;  but  with 
gen.  above,  11  annonae  fecundam.  —  et:  the  asyndeton  could  not 
be  continued  on  account  of  the  insertion  of  a  modifier  (here  a 
clause);  cf.  56;  2,  1  med.;  92,  95  med.;  with  aut  2,  80. 

62.  Vitellius:  for  his  previous  career  cf.  on  9.  —  plura:  sc. 
egerat;  cf.  on  36  omnia  serviliter.  —  ambitione:  cf.  on  1  am- 
bitionem.  —  sordes:  cf.  60  per  avaritiam  ac  sordes.  —  Fonteius: 
cf.  on  7.  — integre:  cf.  48  fin.;  Agr.  7  integreque  ac  strenue  versa- 
tum.  —  mensura:  nom.,  sc.  erat;  others  take  it  as  abl.  —  in  maius: 
as  in  18  med.  —  ut  .  .  .  ita:  cf.  on  4  ut  .  .  .  ita;  cf.  sicut  .  .  . 
ita  below. — humilis:  in  a  bad  sense,  common,  vulgar;  cf.  2,  23 
fin.  humillimo  cuique.  — faventes  =  fautores.  —  sine  modo:  cf.  76 
fin.  —  imperi  dandi:  cf.  Ann.  15,  52  imperium  .  .  .  daturis;  12, 
64  fin.  filio  dare  imperium;  14,  7  illo  sibi  die  dari  imperium.  — 
modesti  =  orderly,  well-disciplined;  cf.  on  60  modestia;  2,  12 
modestiam  disciplinae;  87  summa  modestia;  Agr.  20  laudare 
modestiam.  —  A.  Caecina  Alienus:  cf.  53;  one  of  the  leading 
figures  in  the  story  from  this  point  on;  cos.  suff.  in  69;  cf.  2,  71, 
99-101;  3,  8-9,  13-14,  37.  He  conspired  against  Vespasian  in 
79,  and  was  put  to  death  by  Titus  as  prefect  of  the  city;  Suet. 
Tit.  6.  —  C.  Fabius  Valens:  cf.  7,  57,  61,  etc.;  legatus  of  the  1st 
legion,  at  Bonn;  the  rival  of  Caecina  in  the  struggle  for  the  con- 
trol of  Vitellius;  cos.  suff.  with  Caecina;  cf.  2,  71  et  passim;  his 


BOOK  ii  179 


BOOK   II 

1-9.  Affairs  in  the  East;  Titus,  Vespasian,  Mucianus,  1-7;  a 
pretender  Nero,  8-9. 

1.  diversa:  as  contrasted  both  with  Italy  (Otho),  and  with 
Gaul  and  Germany  (Vitellius).  —  imperio  =  dynasty,  i.e.  of  the 
three  Flavian  emperors;  the  dat.  is  with  initia  causasque;  cf.  on 
1,  67  initium  bello.  —  varia  sorte:  cf.  95  fin.  varia  et  pudenda 
sorte  agebat.  —  laetum:  i.e.  under  the  good  rule  of  Vespasian  and 
Titus.  —  atrox:  under  Domitian,  who  was  assassinated  (cf. 
exitio).  —  vel:  correlated  with  aut;  cf.  10  potens  vel  inops  .  .  . 
infirmum  aut  validum;  68  vel  .  .  .  aut;  1,  19  fin.  aut  .  .  .  vel. 

—  exitio:   for  this  form  of  variety  cf.  Intr.  13.  — Titus:  cf.  on  1, 
10.  —  incolumi  =  alive;    cf.    1,   75  incolumes.  —  patre:    for  Ves- 
pasian cf.  on  1,  10.  —  officium:  Titus'  errand  was  mentioned  1, 
10    fin.     (ad    venerationem    cultumque    eius,   sc.   Galbae).  —  ma- 
turam:  he  was  nearly  thirty.  —  honoribus :  he  had  been  quaestor, 
and  was  now  legatus  legionis,  an  appointment  usually  given  only  to 
those  who  had  been  praetors.  —  ferebat  =  praeferebat;   cf.  26  fere- 
bat;  Intr.  17.  —  intemperantia:  on  the  gossip  about  the  adoption 
cf.   1,  12  med.  —  destinandi:    cf.  1,  12  destinabant  (sc.  imperio). 

—  fortunae:    cf.  on  1,  10  fin.;    below,  61  init.  —  praesaga:    Intr. 
16.  —  responsa:    cf.  1,  10  fin.  ostentis  ac  responsis;   below,  78. — 
et:    cf.  on  1,  51  fin.  et.  —  Achaiae  urbe:   inserted  not  to  give  in- 
formation  (quite  unnecessary  in  the  case  of  Corinth),  but  by 
dwelling  on  the  location  to  mark  distinctly  the  point  at  which 
he  turned  back;    cf.   Piraeum  Atticae  orae,  Ann.  5,  10.  —  anna: 
not  syn.  with  bellum,  but  =  revolt;    cf.  1,  50  fin.  arma  Orientis. 
Cf.,  however,  2,  74  bellum  armague. — paucis  amicorum:  Tac.  is 
fond  of  pauci  with  the  gen.;    cf.  22  fin.  cum  paucis  equitum;    3, 
12  paucis  resistentium;    Ann.  2,  57  and  3,  10  fin.  paucis  familia- 
rium  adhibitis;   beginning  as  a  partitive  the  constr.  was  used  even 
where  one  cannot  speak  of  whole  and  part.  —  sive:  for  sive  .  .  . 
sive;   cf.  9  sen;    Ann.  1,  6  ficta  seu  vera. — fore:    notice  that  the 
verb  is  carried  on  as  far  as  excusatum,  although  it  is  esse  that  is 
suppressed  with  incertam. 


180  NOTES 

2.  vicit:    in  the  contest  between  hope  and  fear,  for  the  pos- 
session of  Titus,  the  former  was  the  winner.  —  Berenice:    great- 
granddaughter  of  Herod  the  Great,  daughter  of  Herod  Agrippa  I 
(the  Herod  of  Acts  12),  sister  of  Herod  Agrippa  II,  with  whom 
she  had  heard  Paul's  defense  (Acts  26),  eight  or  nine  years  before. 
"A  Cleopatra  on  a  small  scale"  (Mommsen,  R.  P.  II,  238),  she 
had  deserted  her  third  husband,   Polemo,  prince  of  a  part  of 
Cilicia,  and  lived  with  her  brother  Agrippa,  who  was  now  with 
Titus  at  Corinth,  but  went  on  to  Rome  (cf.  81).     In  75  she  came 
to  Rome  and  lived  with  Titus;   but  he  sent  her  away,  as  also  in 
79,  invitus  invitam  (Suet.  Tit.  7).     Cf.  Dio  66,  15,  18.  —  reginae  = 
princess.  —  laeva  maris:    i.e.  the  Aegean,  as  lying  to  the  left  of 
his  course  through  the  Cyclades  to  Rhodes;  the  gen.  is  part.;   cf. 
69  inania  belli.  —  praevectus  =  praetervectus;    cf .   Ann.  2,  6  qua 
Germaniam  praevehitur  (sc.   Rhenus).  —  spatiis  =  stretches.  —  in- 
cessit:  with  the  constr.  of  invasit;  cf.  5,  23  Civilem  cupido  incessit; 
so  also  in  Sail,  and  Livy.  —  Paphiae:    Paphos,  at  the  S.  W.  end 
of  Cyprus,  was  a  colony  of  the  Phoenicians  and  an  ancient  seat 
of  the  worship  of  Aphrodite.  —  fuerit  longum:    the  stereotyped 
classical  phrase  was  longum  est;    but  Tac.  prefers  the  potential; 
cf.  Ann.  4,  65  hand  fuerit  absurdum;    below,  77  absurdum  fuerit. 

—  ritum:    i.e.  ceremonies.  —  habetur:    haberi  in  Sail,  and  Tac.  is 
often  little  more  than  esse;    cf.  3,  12  fin.  inter  duces  habebatur  = 
unus  e  ducibus  erat;    Agr.  28  rectores  habebantur  =  rectores  erant. 

—  disserere:    Cic.  would  have  said  de  initiis  .  .  .  pauca  disserere. 

3.  Aerias:   cf.  Ann.  3,  62  fin.,  where  the  Cyprians  speak  of  him 
as  their  founder  (auctor),  and  ascribe  to  him  the  establishment 
of  this  their  most  venerable  shrine.     Cyprus  itself  was   called 
Aeria.  —  Cinyras:    mentioned    once  in   Homer  as  having  given 
Agamemnon  a  cuirass   (II.   11,   19  f.).     According  to  the  most 
popular  legend  he  was  the  father  of  Adonis   (Ovid  Met.  10,  298- 
514).  —  conceptam:     (i.e.    natam);     she  was  the   sea-born  god- 
dess, dva8vo/j.tini,   &<j>poyti>et.a,.  —  accitam  =  imported;    explained  by 
the    following    et    epexegetic.  —  posteri:     i.e.    both     Cinyradae 
(the  regium  genus)  and  Tamiradae.  —  stirpem:  silver  Latin  use  of 
the  ace.  after  antecellere,  as  in  nondum  omnes  fortuna  antecellis, 
Ann.  14,  55  fin.;  cf.  on  1,  45  proximos.  —  hostiae:  in  this  case  for 
divination  only,  not  for  sacrifice;   see  below,  and  4.  —  fibris:   the 


BOOK  II  181 

word  is  here  a  syn.  for  exta,  as  in  the  poets,  Plin.  and  Suet.;  when 
a  techn.  term  of  haruspicina  it  means  lobe  (of  liver  or  lungs).  — 
vetitum:  for  the  impers.  constr.  cf.  4,  65  fin.  coram  adire  adlo- 
quique  Velaedam  negatum.  —  altaria:  an  altar  at  Paphos  was 
mentioned  in  the  Odyssey  8,  363,  a  passage  imitated  by  Verg. 
Aen.  1,  415  ff.,  who  has  centum  arae.  —  adolentur:  as  a  techn. 
term  of  sacrifice  adolere  —  comburere;  it  was  then  extended  from 
the  victim  to  the  altar  and  place  of  sacrifice,  and  may  be  trans- 
lated cherish,  honor;  cf.  Lucr.  4,  1237  adolentque  altaria  donis; 
Verg.  Aen.  1,  704  flammis  adolere  penates;  7,  71  adolet  ...  al- 
taria taedis;  Ann.  14,  30  fin.  cruore  captivo  adolere  aras.  —  im- 
bribus:  so  Pliny  N.  H.  2,  210  fanum  .  .  .  in  cuius  quondam 
aream  non  impluit.  —  quanquam:  with  prep,  phrase,  as  in  20 
quanquam  in  nullius  iniuriam;  cf.  with  abl.  circumst.  1,  83.  — 
simulacrum:  a  primitive  sacred  stone,  conical  in  shape,  and  white 
(not  a  meteorite,  as  has  sometimes  been  thought).  It  is  repre- 
sented on  some  coins  of  Paphos;  cf.  Head  Hist.  Num.  p.  628. 
Cf.  Encycl.  Biblica,  col.  2979  f.  —  continuus  orbis:  cf.  Intr.  20;  on 
the  omission  of  the  adversative  cf .  on  1,  83  nimia  pietas;  1,  29  patris. 
4.  opulentia:  sc.  templi.  —  quaeque  alia:  objects  linked  with 
the  name  of  some  historical  or  mythological  personage,  including 
apocryphal  inscriptions.  —  vetustati  adfingit:  i.e.  fictis  narra- 
tionibus  vetustati  attribuit.  —  pandi:  middle  sense  =  pater e. — 
caesis  .  .  .  hostiis:  on  the  abl.  abs.  at  end  of  sentence  cf.  Intr.  7. 
—  ubi  .  .  .  videt:  the  classical  use  of  hist.  pres.  with  ubi  (and 
postquam)  with  a  verb  of  perceiving.  —  magnis  consultis:  cf. 
Suet.  Tit.  5  aditoque  Paphiae  Veneris  oraculo,  dum  de  navigatione 
consulit,  etiam  de  imperil  spe  confirmatus  est.  —  respondens:  aoristic 
use  of  the  ptcp.;  i.e.  it  is  not  felt  as  a  present;  in  golden  Latin  it 
would  be  cum  respondisset;  yet  rare  examples  are  found  even  in 
Cicero  (Brut.  180;  pro  Dig.  7).  —  secreto  =  private  interview;  cf. 
100  secretum  .  .  .  quaesitum;  4,  49  secreto  eorum  nemo  adfuit.  — 
fiducia:  on  the  abstr.  for  concr.  cf.  Intr.  15;  for  the  apposition  cf. 
23  incitamenta;  24  fin.  cumulus  .  .  .  subsidium. — profligaverat  = 
paene  confecerat,  a  regular  meaning  of  the  word;  cf.  Livy  21,  40, 11 
committere  ac  profligare  bellum  .  .  .  commissum  ac  profligatum  con- 
ficere;  Augustus.  Mon.  Ancyr.  20  coepta  profligataque  opera  a  patre 
meo  perfect  (OIL.  Ill,  2,  p.  780);  Cic.  Ep.  12,  30,  2  profligato  bello 


182  NOTES 

ac  paene  sublato;  Hist.  3,  50;  Germ.  13  fin.  —  bellum  ludaicum: 
cf.  5,  10;  the  completion  of  the  war  and  destruction  of  Jerusalem 
were  narrated  in  book  5,  but  the  Ms.  ends  abruptly,  and  most  of  the 
story,  as  told  by  Tacitus,  is  lost.  —  ingenium:  cf.  on  1,  51  ingenio; 
5,  14  camporum  suopte  injenio  umentium. — mentis:  collectively 
for  several  colles;  cf.  5,  11.  —  quam  quo  .  .  .  super esset:  the  real 
reason  has  preceded  in  the  condensed  form  ob  ingenium  montis 
(=  quod  mons  natura  praeruptus  erat);  cf.  Sail.  Cat.  14,  7  sed  ex 
aliis  rebus  magis,  quam  quod  .  .  .  compertum  foret;  Livy  43,  21,  8 
magis  quia  .  .  .  poterat,  quam  quod  .  .  .  esset;  Cic.  Ep.  10,  3,  4 
amore  magis  impulsus  .  .  .  quam  quo  te  arbitrarer,  etc.;  Caes.  B.  G. 
4,  2,  1  magis  eo,  ut  .  .  .  quam  quo  ullam  rem  .  .  .  desiderent.  — • 
supra:  i.e.  1,  10.  —  exercitae:  cf.  1,  68  exercita.  —  quattuor 
Mucianus:  cf.  on  1,  10  init.  —  discrimina  .  .  .  labor:  Intr.  14.  — • 
inexpert!:  passive;  cf.  1,  8;  Ann.  1,  59  inexperta  .  .  .  supplicia, 
nescia  (=  ignota)  tributa.  —  inexperti  belli  rubor:  cf.  22  pudore 
coeptae  temere  obpugnationis .  —  cohortium,  etc. :  cf .  70  fin.  classium 
alarum  cohortium  robora  et  fidissimi  reges.  —  classes:  there  were 
galleys  (Liburnicae)  in  the  Black  Sea,  ordered  to  Byzantium  by 
Mucianus  (cf.  83;  3,  47);  also  a  fleet-station  at  Seleucia,  the  port 
of  Antioch;  another  in  Egypt.  —  reges:  the  three  whom  Tac. 
names  (cf.  on  81;  5,  1)  are:  (1)  Agrippa,  i.e.  Herod  Agrippa  II, 
brother  of  Berenice,  and  prince  of  Galilee  and  of  Batanaea,  east  of 
the  Lake  of  Galilee  and  the  Jordan;  (2)  Antiochus  IV,  lung  of  Com- 
magene,  north  of  Syria,  and  of  a  part  of  Cilicia;  later,  deposed  by 
Vespasian  (in  72),  he  lived  in  exile  at  Sparta  and  then  at  Rome. 
(3)  Sohaemus,  ruler  of  Sophene,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Euphrates, 
bordering  on  Armenia.  All  three  had  been  socii  reges  in  the  cam- 
paigns of  Corbulo  under  Nero  (Ann.  13,  7  f.). 

5.  Vespasianus,  etc. :  on  the  style  of  this  passage  cf.  Intr.  24. — 
acer  militiae:  cf.  on  1,  87  fin.  impiger.  —  anteire  agmen:  cf.  on  1, 
45  proximos.  —  diu:  an  old  Latin  abl.,  obsolete,  except  for  Sallust, 
Tacitus,  and  Fronto.  —  posceret:  cf.  on  1,  49  forent;  1,  79  ubi  res 
posceret.  —  prorsus:  used  by  Sail,  and  Tac.  at  the  end  of  a  series 
for  denique,  i.e.  in  a  word;  cf.  62  prorsus,  si  luxuriae  temperaret,  etc.; 
Sail.  lug.  23,  1  prorsus  intentus  cuncta  parare;  Cat.  15,  5,  etc.  — 
abesset:  imperf.  for  pluperf.  in  a  purely  speculative  condition;  cf. 
62  temperaret  for  temperasset.  —  Mucianus:  for  a  fuller  account  of 


BOOK  II  183 

him  cf.  1,  10.  —  cuncta  .  .  .  supergressa:  cf.  Intr.  11.  —  sermone; 
on  his  command  of  Greek  also  cf.  80  satis  decorus  etiam  Graeca 
facundia.  —  dispositu:  the  abl.  with  peritus  is  very  rare  in  golden 
Latin;  cf.  Cic.  pro  Cluent.  107  iure  peritior. — miscerentur :  for 
the  tense  cf .  on  abesset,  above.  —  vicinis :  vicinarum  was  avoided 
for  reasons  of  euphony.  —  exitu:  for  the  abl.  cf.  on  1,  89  motu 
Vindicis.  —  in  medium:  cf.  37  in  medium  consultarent;  1,  68  in 
unum  consulere.  —  dein:  instead  of  proceeding  with  per  Titum,  etc., 
Tac.  recasts  the  thought  in  the  form  of  a  main  clause;  so  98  fin.; 
cf.  on  1,  76  sed  erat.  —  fides:  for  the  apposition  cf.  4  Titus 
fiducia.  —  aboleverat:  not  anterior  to  consuluere;  the  pluperf.  de- 
notes prompt  and  successful  action,  as  in  25  cinxerat;  73  fin.  pro- 
ruperant;  80  transierat.  —  arte  .  .  .  compositus:  cf.  Livy  26,  19,  3 
sed  arte  quoque  quadam  ...  in  ostentationem  earum  (sc.  virtutum) 
compositus. 

6.  praecipitibus :  in  a  weaker  sense  than  in  41  praecipites  ex- 
ploratores,  and  1,  40  ire  praecipites. —  ut  adsolet:  the  comparison 
is  not  with  everyday  news,  but  with  that  of  extraordinary  events. 

—  mole  .   .  .  belli:    cf.  16  tanta  mole  belli;    74  in  tanta  mole  belli 
plerumque  cunctatio;  in  a  different  sense  1,  61  fin.  tola  mole  belli.  — 
Gallia:   sc.  Cisalpina.  —  audit! :    cf.  on  1,  30  audita  est.  —  inspect! 

=»  aspecti.  Augustus  had  repeatedly  visited  the  East,  but  since 
the  death  of  Germanicus,  19  A.D.  at  Antioch,  no  emperor  or  prince 
had  been  seen  in  the  eastern  provinces.  —  vario  eventu:  in  speak- 
ing of  the  same  events  Tac.  makes  Corbulo  say  multa  Romanis 
secunda,  quaedam  Parthis  evenisse,  Ann.  15,  27  (63  A.D.).  —  bello: 
the  revolt  of  Vindex  and  of  Galba;  cf.  on  1,6  fin.  —  aliis:  best  taken 
as  masc.;  cf.  7  bellantibus  aliis.  —  raptum  ire:  cf.  1,  67  ultum  ibat; 
Ann.  4,  1  raptum  ierit;  ib.  66  perditum  ibat.  —  circumspicere:  cf. 
74bellumarmaqueet  .  .  .  vires  circumspectabat.  —  septemlegiones: 
the  beginning  of  an  enumeratio;  Intr.  23.  —  inde:  cf .  on  1 ,  68  inde. 

—  duaeque    legiones :    cf .  on  1 ,   11  copiasque.  —  Pontus :    a  new 
province  on  the  S.  E.  coast  of  the  Black  Sea,  until  63  the  kingdom 
of  Polemo;    cf.   Suet.   Nero   18;    below,  8.  —  Armeniis:    south  of 
Pontus  lay  Lesser  Armenia,  separated  from  Armenia  proper  (in 
part)  by  the  upper  Euphrates.  —  praetenditur :  cf.  14  minacifronte 
praetenderetur. —  tutum:  owing  to  their  control  of  the  fleets;    cf. 
4  fin. 


184  NOTES 

7.  aliis:  made  definite  in  the  next  sentence.  —  bellorum  civilium 
victores:    cf.  Ann.  1,  19  ne  civilium  quidem  bellorum  victores.  — 
ignaviam  =  lack  of  energy;   more  characteristic  of  Vitellius  than 
ofOtho;  but  cf.  38  fin.  ignavia  principum.  —  luxuriem:  forOtho's 
abandonment  of  his  usual  luxus  cf.  11  fin.  —  distulere,  etc.:  for  the 
order  cf.  52  coeunt,  nemo,  etc.  —  nuper:  i.e.  six  months  before,  — 
exitu  Neronis,  5  med.  —  olim:    cf.  on  1,  60  olim.  —  mixtis:    as  in 
Agr.  38  miscere  .  .  .  consilia,  dein  separare  (consilia);    cf.  below, 
74  consilia  sociaverat;   Caesar's  word  was  communicare,  e.g.  B.  G. 
6,  2  fin.  —  optimus  quisque:    sc.  id  agebat.  —  multos:    instead   of 
continuing  the  previous  constr.  Tac.  abruptly  abandons  the  active 
for  the  passive  voice.  —  ambiguae  domi  res:    cf.   Juvenal's  res 
angusta  domi  (3,  165;  6,  357);    cf.  1,  88  fin.  multi  adflicta  fide,  etc. 

8.  velut  =*  in  the  belief  that,  by  the  report  that;  cf.  on  1,  8  tanquam 
.  .  .  fovissent.  —  super  =  de;  this  was  colloquial  in  Cicero's  time, 
hence  found  only  in  his  Letters  to  Atticus    (e.g.  16,  6,  1  hac  super 
re);  accepted  by  Sail.,  Livy,  Tac.  —  exitu:    there  were  persistent 
reports  that  he  had  only  disappeared;   the  people  who  decked  his 
tomb  with  flowers  even  produced  edicta  quasi  viventis  et  brevi 
magno  inimicorum  malo  reversuri  (Suet.   Nero  57).  —  ceterorum: 
cf.  1,  2  falsi  Neronis  ludibrio.     In  the  Annals  we  meet  a  false 
Agrippa  Postumus  and  a  pretender  Drusus  (2,  39;    5,  10).  —  in 
contextu  operis:    but  the  books  in  question  have  perished. — 
Pontus:     cf.  on   6    Pontus.  —  super  similitudinem :   for   super  = 
praeter  cf.  on  1,  8  super;  2,  30  super  benignitatem  animi.  —  pronior 
.  .  .  fides:  fides  is  here  the  confidence  which  others  had  in  him, 
and  by  which  he  profited  (illi,  dat.  poss.);    cf.  1,  87  plurima  fides 
Licinio  Proculo;  2,  33  fin.  Otho,  cui  uni  apud  militem  fides.     For 
pronior  ad  cf.  ib.  Otho  pronus  ad  decertandum;  fides  is  half-per- 
sonified.—  Cythnus:    one  of  the  Cyclades,  with  hot  springs.— 
commeantium:    i.e.  they  were    on    leave;    the    verb  is  given    a 
special  mg.  to  correspond  with  commeatus  =  furlough.  —  dextras: 
cf.  on  1,  54  dextras.  —  ad  celebritatem  nominis:    from  the  notion 
in  reference  to  the  reader  supplies  for  himself  that  of  cause  or  occa- 
sion;  cf.  below,  36  laeto  milite  ad  mutationem  ducum;   73  ad  nomen 
eius    Vitellius  excitabatur;    68  ad  omnes  suspiciones  pavidus.  — 
gliscentem:   the  word  is  Tac.'s  favorite  synonym  for  crescere;   cf. 
83  gliscere  famam  .  .  .  sinebat. 


BOOK  II  185 

9.  Galatia:    in  spite  of  mountains  and  distance  between  this 
inland  province  and  Pamphylia,  on  the  S.  coast  of  Asia  Minor 
(W.  of  Cilicia),  the  two  were  sometimes  under  one  provincial  gov- 
ernor. —  Misenensi:    the  principal  naval  station  was  behind  the 
promontory  of  Misenum,  at  the  entrance  to  the  bay  of  Naples. 
Next  in  order  came  the  station  at  Ravenna,  for  the  Adriatic  fleet; 
cf.  100.  —  is:   the  pretender.  —  in  maestitiam:   cf.  1,  54  in  squa- 
lorem  maestitiamque  compositi.  —  eum:    the  substitution  of  eum 
for  se,  if  it  prevents  an  ambiguity  without  creating  another,  was 
admitted  even  by  the  best  writers;  cf .  below,  64  init.  eius  for  suam. 

—  in  Syria:   one  would  expect  in  Syriam,  but  the  poets  had  pre- 
ferred the  abl.  phrase  with  sistere.  —  nutantes  .  .  .  dolo:  cf.  Intr. 
13.  —  firmaverunt  =  adfirmaverunt,  cf.  Intr.  17.  —  Romam:   the 
incident  is  cleverly  used  to  bring  the  reader  back  to  Rome  and  the 
West. 

10.  Transition:   Rome:   a  delator  condemned. 

Q.  Vibius  Crispus:  of  Vercellae  (near  Turin),  a  celebrated  orator 
and  accuser;  cos.  suff.  under  Nero,  then  curator  aquarum  68-71, 
proconsul  of  Africa  ca.  71-72;  held  two  more  consulships,  and 
died  (over  eighty)  in  the  time  of  Domitian;  cf.  4,  41  f.;  Dial.  8,  13; 
Plin.  N. H.  19,  4;  Frontin.  102.  —  ingenio:  on  his  oratory  cf.  the 
judgment  of  Quint.,  compositus  et  iucundus  et  delectationi  natus,  etc. 
(10,  1,  119).  — factitaverat:  for  the  use  of  this  word  of  a  trade  or 
profession  cf .  Quint.  7,  2,  26  medicinam  factitasse;  Cic.  Brut.  130 
accusationem  factitaverit;  cf.  below,  10  fin.  accusationes  cum 
praemio  exercuisse.  — recenti :  i.e.  early  in  Galba's  reign  (not  recent). 

—  iactatum  =  treated,  handled,  executed;   varie  is  explained  by  the 
following,  et  being  epexegetic  (that  is);  cf.  on  1,  89  init.  —  vel  .  .  . 
aut:    cf.  on  1  vel.  —  incubuerat:   with  inf.  as  in  Verg.  (Georg.  4, 
249),  for  the  Ciceronian  ad  pervertendum.  —  fratris  sui:    i.e.  L. 
Vibius  Secundus:   an  earlier  condemnation  for  extortion,  as  pro- 
curator of  Mauretania  (60  A.D.),  is  mentioned  Ann.  14,  28  fin. — 
indefensum  et  inauditum:  cf.  1,6  inauditi  atque  indefensi.  —  aeque 
.  .  .  quam:  after  a  negative  Tac.  prefers  this  to  class,  aeque  ac. — 
potentia:    cf.  on  1,  1  potentiam.  —  dari  .  .  .  censebant:    in  place 
of  the  usual  ut  clause,  Livy  uses  ace.  and  inf.  of  the  2d  periphr.  or 
ace.  and  pres.  inf.  with  censeo,  and  Tac.  follows  his  example;   cf. 
1,  39  rostra  occupanda  censerent.  —  et  =  et  vero;   cf.  on  1,  34  et.  — 
moribus:   i.e.  conduct;   cf.  1,  48  variis  moribus. 


186  NOTES 

11-26.  First  period  of  the  war  between  Otho  and  Vitellius; 
favorable,  in  general,  to  the  former;  of  the  latter's  two  armies  only 
that  under  Caecina  has  yet  reached  the  plains  of  the  Po. 

11.  motis:  for  the  march  into  North  Italy.  —  Delmatia  Pan- 
noniaque:  for  the  legions  in  these  provinces  cf.  on  1,  9  Illyrico.  — 
bina  milia:  i.e.  a  detachment  (vexUlum)  of  2000  men  from  each 
legion  was  sent  in  advance.  —  ipsae:  in  contrast  with  their  vexilla. 

—  a  Galba  conscripta:   cf.  on  1,  6  Hispana;  this  new  legion  is  to 
be  distinguished  from  VII  Claudia  (or  Claudiana)  in  Moesia;    cf. 
85.  —  quartadecumani :    XIV  Gemina  Martia  Victrix  had  formed 
part  of  the  force  with  which  Aulus  Plautius  conquered  Britain  for 
Claudius,  43  A.D.;   had  especially  distinguished  itself  under  Sueto- 
nius Paulinus  in  the  suppression  of  the  revolt  of  Boadicea  in  61 
(rebellione    Britanniae    compressa)  —  hence   their   proud   epithet 
domitores  Britanniae,  5,  16.     They  were  ordered  to  Dalmatia  by 
Nero.     A  detachment  fought  for  Otho  at  Bedriacum,  below,  43,  66. 

—  eligendo:    probably  for  his  eastern  campaign  (1,  6  fin.).     Ap- 
parently they  had  gone  no  further  than  Dalmatia  when  the  upris- 
ing under  Vindex  led  to  a  change  of  orders.     A  detachment  at 
least  had  been  summoned  to  Rome  by  Nero  (I.e.).  —  fides:    but 
the  Batavian  auxiliaries  attached  to  this  legion  were  against  Nero; 
cf.  below  27.  —  studia:    Otho  is  to  them  the  avenger  of  Nero.  — 
tarditas:   symmetry  would  require  the  insertion  of  eo  maior  before 
tarditas;    on  this  form  of  variety  cf.  on  1,  14  fin.  quo  suspectior; 
2,  99  quantum  .  .  .  tanto,  etc.  —  alae  cohortesque :  i.e.  their  regu- 
lar auxiliaries;    cf.  on  1,  60  cohortibus.  —  praeveniebant  =  ante- 
cedebant;    only  here  in  Tac.;    but  cf.  Ann.  1,  63  fin.  militem  cum 
antevenisset.  —  ex  ipsa  urbe:   the  ellipsis  of  veniebat  is  hardly  felt 
after    praeveniebant.  —  equitum:    i.e.   praetorians.  —  vexilla:    by 
meton.  for  alae,  as  freq.,  e.g.  1,  70  vexillis.  —  prima:   cf.  on  1,  6  e 
classe;  below,  23  legionem  primam;  43  prima  Adiutrix.  —  severis 
ducibus:    so  by  Decimus  Brutus  in  the  campaign  of  Mutina;    cf. 
App.  B.  C.  3,  49  fin.     L.  Antonius  also  had  gladiators  at  Perusia; 
ib.  5,  33  fin.  On  the  dat.  cf.  on  1,  11  procuratoribus.  —  Annius 
Gallus:   cf.  on  1,  87.  —  Vestricius  Spurinna:  well  known  from  the 
letters  of  the  Younger  Pliny;    accomplished  as  a  writer  of  lyrics; 
cos.  twice  or  three  times;    governor  of  Lower  Germany,  appar- 
ently, under  Nerva  or  Trajan;    Plin.  Ep.  2,  7;   3,  1,  etc.     For  his 


BOOK  II  187 

courage  in  the  defense  of  Placentia  cf .  below,  18  ff.  —  prima  con- 
siliorum:  the  expedition  into  Gallia  Narbonensis,  1,  87.  —  trans- 
gresso,  etc.:  cf.  1,  89  fin.  et  Caecina  iam  Alpes  transgressus  ex- 
timulabat.  —  Alpes:  by  the  Great  St.  Bernard,  1,  61,  70  fin. — 
speraverat:  sc.  Otho,  implied  in  consiliorum.  —  speculatorum: 
cf.  on  1,  24  speculatori.  —  lecta  corpora:  cf.  Intr.  19;  Verg.  Aen. 

2,  18  delecta  virum  sortiti  corpora;   9,  272  lectissima  matrum  \  cor- 
pora;   Livy's  phrase  is  robora  virorum,  21,  54,  3,  or  lecta  robora 
virorum,  7,  7,  4.  —  ceteris:   the  speculatores  formed  one  of  the  five 
cohorts  (see  above,  quinque  .  .  .  cohortes). —  e  praetorio:    cf.  1, 
20  e  praetorio.  —  classicorum :  the  marines  had  demanded  organiza- 
tion as  a  legion;   cf.  on  1,  6  introitus;  and  1,  87  numeros.  —  ferrea: 
not  the  more  comfortable  lintea.  —  ire:  for  the  single  hist.  inf.  cf. 
on  1,  4Qfatigari.  —  famae:  followed  by  Juvenal  in  his  gibe  at  Otho's 
mirror,  —  speculum  civilis  sarcina  belli,  2,  103. 

12.  Maritimae  Alpes:  a  small  province  between  Italy  and  Gallia 
Narbonensis,  governed  by  a  procurator  (cf.  below).  His  author- 
ity, though  exercised  on  both  banks  of  the  Varus  (Var)  did  not 
include  the  towns  of  Nicaea  and  Monoecus  (Nice  and  Monaco)  on 
the  coast.  The  capital  was  Cemeneluin  (Cimiez),  just  north  of 
Nice.  —  temptandis  =  occupandis.  —  Suedius  Clemens,  etc. :  cf . 
on  1,  87.  —  vinctus:  for  other  officers  similarly  treated  cf.  26; 

3,  14  (Caecina).  —  ambitioso:  cf.  on  1,  83  ambitioso.  —  adversus  = 
as  regards.  —  modestiam:    cf.  on  1,  52  modesti.  —  corruptus:    cf. 
1,    35    fin.    adversus    blandientes    incorruptus. —  Italia  .  .  .  loca 
sedesque:    on    the  balanced  structure  cf.   Intr.   14.  —  tanquam: 
adversative  asyndeton;   cf.  on  1,  83  nimia  pietas;  2,  16  aptum  tern- 
pus,   etc.  —  rapere  =  diripere;    cf.   Intr.    17.  —  metus  =  alarms; 
cf.  on  13  iras.  —  et  belli  malo:  omit  the  conj.  in  trans.;  the  Latin 
tolerates  a  correlation  of  different  kinds  of  ablatives  (cause  and 
means).  —  circumveniebantur:    cf.  Ann.  14,  32  quasi  media  pace 
incauti  multitudine  barbarorum  circumveniuntur  (at  Camulodunum, 
in  Britain,  61  A.D.).  —  procurator:  cf.  on  1,  2  fin.  procurationes.  — 
Marius  Maturus:    cf.  3,  42  f.  — iuventus:    so  in  another  procura- 
torial  province,  1,  68  et  ipsorum  Raetorum  iuventus,  sueta  armis 
et  more  militiae  exercita.  —  arcere  .  .  .   intendit:    cf.  22  Cremonam 
petere   intendit;     Agr.  18   redigere  .  .  .  animo   intendit.  —  nosci- 
tantibus:   cf.  1,  68  non  arma  noscere. 


188  NOTES 

13.  iras:   for  the  plur.  of  the  abstr.  cf.  76  his  pavoribus;   5,  24 
luctus;     Ann.   1,  55  fin.   incitamenta  irarum.  —  Albintimilium  = 
Album  Intimilium  =  Ventimiglia,  now  the  nearest  town  in  Italy 
(Liguria)  to  the  French  frontier.     It  was  here  that  Agricola's 
mother  was  among  the  innocent  victims,  —  Agr.  7  nam  classis 
Othoniana  licenter  vaga  dum  Intimilium  .  .  .  hostiliter  populatur, 
matrem  Agricolae  in  praediis  suis  interfecit,  etc.  —  capi:    i.e.  that 
they  might  be  sold  into  slavery.  —  auxit  invidiam  =  bad  feeling 
was  increased  by,  etc. 

14.  adactae:    cf.  on   1,  55  adactae;    2,  73;    2,  6  sacramentum 
Othonis  acceperat.     The  submission  of  Gall.  Narb.  to  Vitellius  was 
mentioned,  1,  76.  —  Fabio  Valenti:    at  some  point  on  his  march 
towards  the  Cottian  Alps;  cf.  1,  66.  —  coloniarum:  of  the  numerous 
colonies  in  Gall.  Narb.  the  only  places  in  serious  danger  from  the 
fleet  and  marines  of  Otho  were  Forum  lulii  (Frejus),  Arelate  (Aries), 
and  Narbo  Martius   (Nar bonne),  —  possibly  also  Aquae  Sextiae 
(Aix)  and  Nemausus  (Nimes).     Massilia  was  a  civitas  libera.  — 
Tungri:   in  Lower  Germany,  now  Belgium,  around  Li6ge.     These 
cohorts  served  in  Britain  under  Agricola  (Agr.  36),  and  remained 
there  to  the  end  of  the  Roman  occupation.  —  Treverorum:   cf.  on 
1,  53;  this  ala  of  cavalry  appears  again  on  the  lower  Rhine  in  the 
war  against  Civilis,  in  which  it  deserted  with  its  commander  Clas- 
sicus;   cf.  4,  18,  55.  —  lulius  Classicus:   of  the  royal  family  of  the 
Treveri;    went  over  to  the  side  of  Civilis  in  70;    cf.  4,  55,  57  ff.; 
5,  19  ff.  —  misit:    they  probably  marched    down   the  Rhone  to 
Avennio  (Avignon),  and  then  via  Aquae  Sextiae  (Aix).  —  colonia 
Foroiuliensis:  Forum  lulii,  a  colony  and  naval  station,  now  Frejus, 
with  many  remains  of  its  harbor  works,  amphitheater,  and  aqueduct; 
cf.  3,  43.     It  was  the  patria  of  Agricola;    cf.  Agr.  4.  —  lecti:   i.e. 
a  detachment  (vexillum,  1,  31  fin.).  —  Ligurum  cohors:  numerous 
tombstones  show  that  its  regular  station  was  Cemenelum  (Cimiez); 
cf.  on  12  init.  —  vetus  loci:    vetus  in  the  sense  of  prudens  or  ex~ 
pertus  takes  a  gen.  in  Tac.;   cf.  4,  20  veteres  militiae;  76  veterem  ex- 
pertumque  belli;    Ann.  1,  20  fin.  vetus  operis  ac  laboris.  —  nondum 
sub  signis:   i.e.  recruits  awaiting  organization  as  a  cohort;   mean- 
time they  would  have  a  vexillum.  —  acies:    i.e.  Othonianorum,  as 
the  mention  of  classici  shows.  —  classicorum :   cf .  1 1  fin.  classicorum 
ingens  numerus.  —  paganis  =  peasants,  as  in  4,  20,  compelled  by 


BOOK  II  189 

the  Othonians  to  fight  on  their  side  (cf.  1,  53  fin.  paganos  =  civil- 
ians). —  colles:  the  word  hardly  suggests  the  wild  character  of 
that  coast.  The  scene  of  the  battle  must  be  placed  somewhere 
about  Monaco  or  Menton;  cf.  15  fin.  —  praetorianus  miles:  a 
detachment  of  praetorians,  assigned  to  duty  with  the  fleet;  cf. 
1,  87.  —  conversa:  i.e.  with  the  prorae  towards  the  shore,  — the 
opposite  of  the  usual  position.  —  praetenderetur:  sc.  litori. — 
Alpinos  =  Ligures  or  Ligurum  cohortem.  —  cohortes:  used  for  the 
lecti  e  cohortibus,  etc.  (above);  as  legiones  sometimes  for  detach- 
ments from  different  legions  (cf .  on  22  legionum).  —  contra:  op- 
posed to  a  latere.  —  veteranus  miles:  the  praetorians.  —  obscurum 
noctis:  cf.  4,  50  obscuro  .  .  .  lucis;  Ann.  2,  39  fin.  obscuro  diei; 
cf.  on  1,  62  medio  diei.  —  obtentui:  cf.  on  1,  49  obtentui;  the  dative 
does  duty  in  place  of  a  relative  clause,  quod  obtentui  erat. 

15.  quanquam  victi:  cf.  on  1,  43  quanquam.  —  accitis:   no  doubt 
from  their  base,  at  Fr6jus;  cf .  14.  —  sidente  =  residente;  cf .    Intr. 
17.  —  iuxta  =  iuxta  sito  =  vicino;   for  the  attributive  use  of  the 
adv.  cf.    Agr.  25  universarum    ultra    gentium;    below,   16    Libur- 
nicarum  ibi  navium;    so  also  prep,  phrases,  e.g.  93  crebrae  in  vulgus 
mortes;   cf.  1,  50  fin.  ante  se;   2,  54  a  Brixello;   76  fin.  ante  omnis; 
Germ.  37  multa  in  vicem  damna.  —  Tungrarum:  here  used  as  adj., 
cf .  Ann.  4,  47  fin.  Sugambrae  cohortis.  —  ne  .  .  .  quidem  =  also 
.  .  .  not;  cf.  on  1,  29  fin.  —  quorum  .  .  .  secutos:  for  the  part.  gen. 
with  ptcp.  cf.  Agr.  11  fin.  Britannorum  olim  victis. — hinc  .  .  . 
inde:  cf.  on  6  inde.  —  retro:  if  with  revertere,  there  is  a  pleonasm; 
it  may  belong,  however,  only  with  the  first  member,  —  retro  An- 
tipolim  (cessere).  —  Antipolis:  a  Massilian  colony  on  the  coast,  now 
Antibes,  12  m.  west  of  Nice.  —  Albingaunum:    Albenga,  also  on 
the  coast,  but  64  m.  east  of  Nice,  —  a  distance  which  makes 
interioris  appropriate.  —  interioris  Liguriae:    the  gen.  is  attached 
in  the  Greek  fashion  directly  to  the  town  name,  —  a  use  found, 
however,  even  in  Caesar;    cf.  B.  G.  1,  10  fin.  in  finis  Vocontiorum 
ulterioris  provinciae;   Ann.  5,  10  Piraeum  Atticae  orae.     He  means 
a  town  of  Liguria,  some  distance  from  the  frontier. 

16.  tenuit  =  retinuit;  cf.  Intr.  17.  —  procuratoris:  Corsica  was 
probably  no  longer  administratively  connected  with  Sardinia,  but 
had  its  own  procurator,  and  for  garrison  a  small  body  of  sailors  and 
marines  from  the  fleet  at  Misenum;   cf.CIL.  X,  2,  p.  838.  —  tanta 


190  NOTES 

mole  belli:  cf.  on  2,  6  mole  .  .  .  belli.  —  in  summam  =  for  the 
general  cause  (ultimate  issue) :  cf.  Ann.  13,  38  nihil  in  summam  pacts 
proficiebatur. —  provenisset:  this  figure  for  success  is  taken  from 
the  thriving  of  crops;  cf.  20  fin.  ut  initia  belli  provenissent.  — 
trierarchum:  usually  the  commander  of  a  trireme  or  galley  (cf. 
9),  —  here  in  command  of  a  small  squadron.  —  Liburnicarum : 
galleys  of  this  type  had  won  the  day  at  Actium  for  Octavian;  origi- 
nally employed  by  the  Liburnian  pirates  of  Illyricum  (Croatia  and 
Dalmatia);  cf.  35.  —  ibi:  position  gives  it  attributive  force;  cf. 
on  15  iuxta;  34  validis  utrimque  trabibus;  39  tot  circum  omnibus. 

—  Quintium:  for  the  asyndeton  cf.  on  1,  13  Vinium  .  .  .  Laconem. 

—  qui  aderant:   other  officials,  or  notables,  in  contrast  with  turba. 

—  inconditos:    in  its  common  opposition  to  disciplined  soldiers, 
as  Ann.  3,  46  inconditique  ac  militiae  nescii  oppidani;    ib.  4,  47 
magna  vis  armata,  at  incondita.  —  longe:    for  the  ellipsis  of  abesse 
cf.  Intr.  26.  —  vastatos:    transferred  from  cities  and  countries  to 
their   inhabitants;     cf.    87   fin.    ipsi   cultores   arvaque  .  .  .  vasta- 
bantur;    Agr.  22  vastatis  nationibus;    Ann.   14,  23  fin.,  38;    not 
found  before  Livy  (23,  42,  5  devastati).  —  aperta  vi:   sc.  egere;   cf. 
Intr.    26.  —  aptum    tempus:     on     adversative    asyndeton     after 
negative  cf.  on  12  tanquam.  —  balineis:   for  the  local  abl.  without 
prep.  cf.  5,  5  urbibus  .  .  .  templis;  Intr.  18;  it  may  also  be  ex- 
plained as  circumstantial,  i.e.  at  the  hour  of  the  bath  (as  ludis, 
gladiatoribus,  etc.).  —  conluvie  rerum  =  confusion  of  the  times.  — 
permixtos:  and  hence  lost  sight  of. 

17.  aperuerat:  in  the  sense  of  opening  the  way  for  conquest, 
as  in  Curt.  7,  1,  3  primus  Asiam  aperuerat  regi;  cf.  Hist.  3,  2  fin. 
iam  reseratam  Italiam  .  .  .  audietis.  In  Agr.  22,  Germ.  1,  i  is 
used  of  discovering  new  regions.  —  supra:  i.e.  1,  70.  —  apud 
quemquam:  referring  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  region  in  general, 
not  merely  to  the  Siliani.  —  necquia:  fornonquo  (cf.  quam  quo,  4). 

—  occupantibus:    i.e.  the  first  to  take  possession.  —  melioribus: 
masc.  as  is  shown  by  its  contrast  with   occupantibus ;  here  the 
unusual  dat.  with  incuriosus,  in  place  of  gen.  (1,  49  famae  nee 
incuriosus).     The  full  expression  would  be  eligendis  melioribus  in- 
curiosos;   cf.  Ann.  14,  38  serendis  frugibus  incuriosos.  —   quantum, 
etc.:    Tac.  leaves  out  of  account   all  the  country  east   of   about 
Verona.     In  that  quarter  the  Othonians  were  as  yet  unopposed.  — 


BOOK  II  191 

urbium:  four  were  mentioned  in  1,  70.  —  praemissae  .  .  .  co- 
hortes:  cf.  ib.  - — Pannoniorum:  this  cohort  was  previously  in 
Germany,  at  Bingerbriick;  later  probably  in  Britain;  cf.  CIRh. 
740,  743.  —  Cremona:  near  the  left  bank  of  the  Po,  19  m.p.  below 
Placentia.  —  Placentia  =  Piacenza,  a  short  distance  from  the 
right  bank  of  the  Po.  —  Ticinum  =  Pavia,  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Ticinus  (Ticino),  near  its  mouth,  ca.  35  m.p.  from  Placentia.  — 
quin  etiam:  postpositive,  as  regularly  in  Tac.,  except  in  the  Dial. 
—  a  poetic  freedom  of  order;  cf.  64  fin.  —  Batavos:  they  were  eager 
to  display  their  skill  in  swimming;  cf.  4,  12  fin.  praecipuo  nandi 
studio;  Agr.  18  patrius  nandi  usus,  etc. — falsi:  for  this  middle 
(or  passive)  sense  cf.  Sail.  lug.  85,  20  illi  falsi  sunt,  qui,  etc.;  ib. 
10,  1  neque  ea  res  falsum  me  habuit. 

18.  certum  erat:  followed  by  ace.  and  inf.  of  the  fact  of  which 
he  was  certain,  and  also  two  infinitives  expressing  his  resolution.  — 
Spurinna:    cf.  on  11.  —  necdum  =  et  nondum,  connecting  with  et 
•  .  .  nee.  —  propinquaret:     cf.    Intr.    17;     Tac.    seems    to   have 
avoided  adpropinquare,  using  it  but  three  times;    cf.   1,  39. — 
vexillarios:   cf.  on  1,  31  fin.  vexilla;  a  part  of  the  8000  mentioned 
in  11  init.  —  vexillis:   i.e.  of  the  cavalry,  and  that  of  the  detach- 
ment of  1000;   cf.  11  equitum  vexilla.  —  retinenti:  for  the  conative 
use  cf.  on  1,  9  retinentis. 

19.  in  conspectu:    as  there  is  no  intimation  that  they  crossed 
the  Po  in  the  face  of  the  German  auxiliaries  (17  fin.),  we  must 
assume  that  they  marched  up  the  valley.     At  8  m.p.  from  the 
city  they  probably  reached  the  river,  at  a  point  where  it  bends 
away  to  the  north.     The  sight  of  the  river  recalled  the  recent  at- 
tack of  the  Batavians,  and  added  to  their  sense  of  insecurity.  — 
metum  ac  discrimen :    i.e.  the  danger  to  be  feared;   a  form  of  hen- 
diadys,  linking  subjective  effect  with  objective  cause;    cf.  on  47 
solaciis.  —  circumfudisset:     the   ind.    quotation    of   circumfuderit 
(fut.  perf.).  —  laudari:  for  the  isolated  hist.  inf.  cf.  on  11  fin.  ire.  — 
validam:    with  gen.  —  not  found  before  Tac.;    cf.   Ann.  4,  21 
orandi  validus.  —  robur  ac  sedem  =  as  a  strong  base;    hendiadys, 
cf.  Agr.  3  fiduciam  ac  robur;  for  sedes  bello  cf.  3,  8  quae  sedes  bello 
legeretur;    Ann.  14,  33  an  illam  sedem  bello  deligeret.  —  bello:   cf. 
on  1,  67  initium  bello.  —  rationem:   cf.  on  1,  83  ratio  rerum;   2,  25 
cum  ratione;    80  spes  timor,  ratio  casus.  —  baud  paeniteret:    i.e. 


192  NOTES 

they  had  no  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with,  etc.;  cf.  Agr.  33  neque 
me  militum  neque  vos  ducis  paenituit. 

20.  saevitia,  etc. :  the  reference  is  to  his  harsh  treatment  of  the 
Helvetii,  1,  67  f.  —  versicolori:    after  the  Gallic  style;     cf.   5,  23 
sagulis  versicoloribus.  —  bracas:    for  the  poetic  ace.  constr.  with 
indutus  cf.  Intr.  19;  only  here  in  Tac.;  it  is  found  also  in  Livy  (27, 
37,  12).     The  Mss.  add  the  appositive  barbarum  legmen,  probably 
a  gloss.     Roman  soldiers  were  beginning  to  wear  bracae  when  on 
service  in  northern  countries.  —  quanquam  .  .  .  veheretur:    cf. 
on  1,  68  quanquam.  —  in  nullius  iniuriam:   emphatic;  although  no 
one  was  injured  by  the  fact  that,  etc.     A  striking  example  of  con- 
densation;  cf .  on  46  maiore  animo.  —  ostro:  i.e.  a  purple  cloth  on 
which  she  sat.  —  gravabantur:  trans,  as  Ann.  3,  59  fin.  gravaretur 
aspectum  civium,  and  5,  8  spem  ac  metum  iuxta  gravatus.  —  insita 
mortalibus  natura:  as  in  1,  55,  with  the  same  inf.  constr.  —  nullis: 
substantive  (rare,  but  class.):   cf.  nulli,  Ann.  2,  77  fin. —  speciosis 
et  inritis:  the  contrast  between  the  two  adjj.  makes  an  adversative 
conj.  unnecessary.     This  is  a  favorite  grouping  with  Tac.,  often 
with  a  touch  of  satire;   cf.  3,  56  fin.  iucundum  et  laesurum;    4,  33 
fin.  maior   numerus  et  imbellior;     Ann.  12,  52  senatus   consultum 
atrox  et  inritum.  —  iactata  sunt:    neut.  verb  with  feminine  subjects, 
as  frequently  in  Sail.  (e.g.  lug.  38,  8;    Cat.  20,  2);   cf.  3,  70  pacem 
et^koncordiam  victis  utilia,  victoribus  tantum  pulchra  esse;   4,  64  ut 
amicitia    societasque  .  .  .  rata    sint.  —  provenissent:     cf.    on    16 
provenisset;   on  19  circumfudisset;    cf.  Agr.  18  prout  prima  cessis- 
sent,  terrorem  ceteris  fore. 

21.  impetu  .  .  .  transactus:    contrast  1,  47  exacto  per  scelera 
die.  —  aperti:  i.e.  without  waiting  to  construct  vineae,  plutei,  etc., 
cf.  below.  —  amphitheatri:   it  must  have  been  largely  constructed 
of  wood,  like  that  at  Fidenae,  which  collapsed  in  27  A.D.,  when 
50,000  (?)  were  killed  or  injured;     Ann.  4,  62  f.  —  dum:    cf.  3, 
71  ambigitur,  ignem  tectis  obpugnatores  iniecerint,  an  obsessi,  .  .  . 
dum  nitentes  ac  progresses  depellunt  (of  the  burning  of  the  Capitol). 
—  glandes  =  fire-balls,  of  iron  or  clay,  heated;  cf.  Caes.  B.  G.  5, 
43  ferventis  fusili  ex  argilla  glandis.  —  missilem  ignem:  cf.  Caes. 
ib.  fervefacta  iacula;   also  known  as  falaricae,  Liv.  21,  8,  10;    an- 
other kind  was  the  malleolus,  Liv.   42,   64,   3  faces  taedamque  et 
malleolos  stuppae  inlitos  pice.  —  tarn  capax:    this  was,  of  course, 


BOOK  II  193 

before  the  building  of  the  Flavian  amphitheater  at  Rome  (Colos- 
seum). That  of  Verona  is  of  much  later  date.  —  foret  =  esset; 
cf.  88,  100,  etc.  —  in  levi  habitum:  not  differing  in  sense  from  leve 
habitum;  cf.  Ann.  3,  54  in  levi  habendum;  Germ.  5  in  pretio  habent. 

—  ceterum:   returning  from  the  digression.  —  absumpta:   cf.  Agr. 
21  sequens  hiems  saluberrimis  consiliis  absumpta;    Ann.  2,  8  plures 
dies  efficiendis  pontibus   absumpti.  —  pluteos :    the  pluteus  was  a 
kind  of  shield  on  wheels;    it  was  made  of  planks   with  a  sharp 
angle,  or  in  its  semicircular  form,  of  wicker  covered  with  hides.  — 
crates  =  fascines,  similar  to  the  wicker  plutei,  but  without  the  hides. 

—  vineas:    with  their  hide-covered  roofs  and  sides  the  vineae  fur- 
nished protection  to  a  whole  squad.  —  perfringendis:    Tac.  has  in 
mind  the  vineae  and  testudines,  but  strains  a  point  in  letting  the 
word  agree  with  hostibus;  cf.  on  16  vastatos.  —  pudor  :  their  honor 
was  at  stake;  they  were  ashamed  to  give  way.  —  gloria  =  gloriae 
cupido,  as  Ann.  1,  43  pudor  et  gloria.  —  legionum  .  .  .  exercitus, 
etc.:  on  the  style  of  this  passage  cf.  Intr.  14.  —  attollentium:  loosely 
connected  with  exhortationes,  in   order  to  provide  a   government 
for    robur    and  decus.  —  peregrinum:     whereas   praetorians  were 
recruited  in  Italy;    cf.   1,  84  Italiae  alumni.  —  uberioribus  .  .  . 
probris:    cf.   30  fin.  quamvis  uberrima  conviciorum  in   Vitettium 
materia. 

22.  die  =  luce;  cf .  Intr.  19.  —  plena  .  .  .  fulgentes :  cf .  Intr. 
23.  —  legionum:  on  the  use  of  the  plur.  where  there  was  but  one 
legion  and  detachments  cf.  on  1,  70  fin.  legionum;  2,  25;  cf.  on  14 
cohortes.  —  sagittis  aut  saxis:  i.e.  eminus.  —  fluxa:  a  favorite  word 
with  Tac.,  to  express  the  idea  of  decay,  decline,  etc.;  cf.  32  fluxis 
corporibus.  —  cantu  truci:  i.e.  the  barditus  of  Germ.  3;  cf.  4,  18  ut 
virorum  cantu,  feminarum  ululatu  sonuit  acies,  etc.  (Civilis  and  his 
Germans).  —  nudis:  either  lightly  clad,  or  bare  to  the  waist; 
cf.  Germ.  6  nudi  aut  sagulo  leves.  —  subruit,  etc.:  the  vivid  effect  of 
the  hist.  pres.  is  often  increased  by  its  position  in  advance  of  its 
object.  —  molitur:  conative.  —  ingenti  pondere:  abl.  manner, 
but  to  be  translated  as  abl.  qual.  —  confixi:  i.e.  by  ordinary 
weapons,  which  did  not  need  to  be  mentioned.  —  exsangues  = 
bleeding  to  death.  —  infracta  .  .  .  fama:  a  serious  loss  for  the 
dreaded  armies  of  the  Rhine;  cf.  24  init.;  27  reciperandi  decoris 
cupidine.  —  isdem  castris:  abl.;  cf.  on  1,  55  hibernis. — intendit: 


194  NOTES 

cf.  12  fin.  arcere  .  .  .  intendit.  —  lulius  Briganticus:  son  of 
Civilis'  sister.  But  he  was  an  enemy  of  the  Batavian  leader  (ut 
ferme  acerrima  proximorum  odia  sunt,  4,  70),  and  died  fighting  for 
Rome,  5,  21.  —  primipilaris:  cf.  on  1,  31  primipilaribus. — 
ordines  duxerat  =  centurio  fuerat;  cf .  4,  5. 

23.  acta:  sc.  essent;  cf.  42  ignaris  quae  causa  salutandi.  Omis- 
sion of  the  subjv.  in  ind.  quest,  is  frequent;  cf.  on  1,  85  ne  ... 
silentium.  —  Annius  Gallus:  cf.  11;  1,  87.  —  legionem  primam: 
cf.  on  11  prima.  —  ne  .  .  .  tolerarent:  an  expansion  of  diffisus; 
cf.  on  1,  38  ut  .  .  .  distingueretur;  2,  26  fin.  —  pergere:  the  re- 
pulse at  Placentia  caused  no  retreat,  or  abandonment  of  his  general 
plan  of  campaign.  —  Bedriacum:  22  m.p.  east  of  Cremona,  accord- 
ing to  the  Tabula  Peutingeriana;  the  village  occupied  a  position 
of  strategic  importance  at  the  junction  of  the  Via  Postumia  with  a 
direct  road  to  Verona.  The  former  led  from  Placentia  through 
Cremona  to  Mantua,  and  perhaps  via  Hostilia  to  Patavium  and 
Aquileia;  cf.  24  viae  and  aggerem  viae;  41  via;  3,  21  viae  Postumiae 
aggere.  Probably  near  the  left  bank  of  the  Ollius,  at  Calvatone;  cf. 
CIL.  V,  1,  p.  411.  The  distance  to  Cremona  was  given  as  20  m.p. 
(vicesimo  lapide)  by  Pompeius  Planta,  a  contemporary  of  Tac., 
but  this  is  probably  a  round  number;  cf.  Schol.  on  luv.  2,  99.  — 
duabus  .  .  .  cladibus:  both  in  this  same  year,  viz.  that  of  14th 
April,  in  which  the  Vitellians  gained  the  victory  (cf.  41-44),  and 
that  in  October,  in  which  they  succumbed  to  the  troops  of  Ves- 
pasian (3,  16-25).  Both  battles  might  have  been  named  from 
Cremona,  rather  than  Bedriacum.  — notus  inf austusque :  observe 
the  Latin  method  of  converting  noted  into  notorious  by  adding 
another  adj.,  a  form  of  hendiadys.  —  Martius  Macer:  he  had  com- 
manded the  IVth  and  Vth  legions  in  Germany,  and  had  governed 
Moesia  (under  Claudius)  and  then  Achaia.  His  cursus  honorum  is 
found  on  an  inscr.  at  Arezzo,  CIL.  XI,  1835;  cf.  below,  71. — 
flnimi;  cf.  on  1,  53  animi  (inmodicus).  — gladiatores:  cf.  11. — 
adversam:  i.e.  the  left,  or  north,  bank.  —  Cremonam:  at  present 
the  headquarters  of  the  Vitellians.  —  repressus:  by  the  Othonian 
generals;  see  below.  —  animo:  added  to  balance  ore  in  the  chias- 
mus.—  eos  quoque:  referring  to  Paulinus  and  Celsus  only.  As 
Gallus  alone  has  been  mentioned  lately  (11,  23),  the  reader  might 
forget  the  other  commanders  named  in  1,  87.  —  incitamenta: 


BOOK   II  195 

appositive  to  interfectores;  cf.  on  4  fiducia.  —  miscere  cuncta:  cf. 
1,  53  miscere  cuncta;  and  on  2, 11  fin.  ire.  —  humillimo :  cf.  on  1,  52 
humiiis.  —  inter  adversa:  on  the  variety  cf.  Intr.  13.  —  Titianus: 
he  had  been  left  behind  as  Otho's  representative  at  Rome,  1,  90 
fin.  It  was  a  strange  act  of  blindness  on  Otho's  part  to  relieve 
the  able  trio  named  above,  and  give  the  command  to  his  incom- 
petent brother. 

24.  interea:  it  was  some  time  before  Titianus  could  arrive. — 
coepta:  i.e.  the  fact  that,  etc.;  Intr.  11.  —  nuper:  by  the  gladiators 
of  Martius  Macer,  23.  —  crebra  .  .  .  proelia :  in  apposition  with 
concursum,  which  is  not  limited  to  a  single  encounter.  —  digna 
memoratu:  cf.  Livy  4,  43,  1  nihil  dignum  memoratu;  27,  41,  5 
certamina  hand  satis  digna  dictu;  but  in  Caesar  dignum  memoria, 
B.  G.  7,  25,  1.  —  Valens:  cf.  14;  he  reaches  Ticinum  (Pavia)  at 
chap.  27.  —  illuc  =  in  ilium,  as  4,  18  illuc  ( =  in  illos)  incubuere 
Germani.  —  ad  duodecumum:  sc.  lapidem;  cf.  39  ad  quartum  a 
Bedriaco;  the  distance  from  Bedriacum  would  be  ten  miles;  cf.  on 
23  Bedriacum.  —  locus  Castor  urn:  cf.  Suet.  Otho  9  ad  Castoris, 
quod  loco  nomen  est;  some  shrine  of  Castor  and  Pollux  (the  Castores) 
gave  its  name  to  the  spot.  —  viae:  sc.  Postumiae;  cf.  on  23  Bedri- 
acum.—  inritato  proelio:  the  usual  expression  was  hostes  proelio 
(abl.)  lacessere;  cf.  Caes.  B.  G.  1,  15,  3.  —  insidiae:  one  would 
expect  ex  insidiis,  as  in  Livy  21,  34,  6  ex  insidiis  barbari  .  .  . 
coorti.  —  coorerentur:  but  the  plan  failed,  and  they  did  not  wait 
for  the  approach  of  the  Othonians;  cf.  25  Vitelliani  temere  ex- 
surgentes.  —  Paulinus  .  .  .  Celsus:  while  Annius  Callus  remained 
in  charge  at  Bedriacum,  where  reinforcements  were  daily  arriving. 
Possibly  he  had  already  met  with  the  accident  mentioned  at  33 
init.  —  sumpsere:  for  the  plural  cf.  on  1,  48  interfecerant.  —  vexil- 
lum:  the  2000  who  had  preceded  the  body  of  the  legion;  cf.  11 
init.;  cf.  1,  31  fin.  vexilla.  —  aggerem:  the  elevated,  paved  central 
portion  of  the  road,  a  familiar  feature  of  every  Roman  road  in  a 
flat  country;  cf.  42  fin.;  3,  21  in  ipso  viae  Postumiae  aggere. — 
altis  ordinibus:  i.e.  in  column.  Although  not  explicitly  stated,  it 
is  probable  that  the  legionaries  and  auxiliaries  were  also  in  col- 
umns at  first,  on  account  of  the  lack  of  unobstructed  ground;  cf. 
25  pandi  aciem;  and  in  vineas  .  .  .  modica  silva,  etc.  — cumulus: 
for  the  apposition  cf.  4  fiducia;  23  incitamenta;  for  the  sense,  1, 
77  pontificatus  .  .  .  cumulum  dignitatis  addidit. 


196  NOTES 

26.  prudens  =  acquainted  with  (in  advance),  as  in  Agr.  19  ani- 
morum  provinciae  prudens.  —  suos:  i.e.  the  cavalry;  cf.  24. — 
exsurgentes:  i.e.  ex  insidiis.  —  ultro:  of  the  biter  bitten;  cf.  on  1, 7 
ultra.  —  in  insidias:  the  auxiliary  cohorts  had  advanced  more 
rapidly  than  the  legionaries  and  praetorians  in  the  center,  so  that 
Paulinus'  formation  was  now  en  echelon.  Celsus  in  retiring 
passed  through  the  center,  drawing  the  Vitellians  into  a  trap.  — 
legionum:  cf.  on  22  legionum.  The  praetorians  are  not  men- 
tioned, because  the  change  of  formation  explained  above  reduced 
them  to  the  position  of  a  reserve.  —  discursu:  i.e.  separating  to 
right  and  left.  —  cinxerat:  cf.  on  5  fin.  aboleverat.  —  eques:  the 
praetorian  and  auxiliary  cavalry  which  had  at  first  been  held  in 
reserve  (24  fin.,  25  fin.).  —  cum  ratione:  i.e.  that  were  logical; 
cf.  19  rationem.  —  fossas:  some  were  for  irrigation,  others  for 
drainage.  —  aperiri:  cf.  the  obstacles  mentioned  just  below.  — 
traducum  =  vine-layers,  trained  from  tree  to  tree,  —  the  method 
still  practiced  in  that  region.  —  et  =  besides.  —  ausi:  in  a  preg- 
nant sense;  cf.  71  fin.  adversus  Neronem  ausus;  5,  11  longius 
ausuri.  —  equitum:  cf.  on  eques,  above.  —  rex  =  prince.  — 
Epiphanes:  son  of  Antiochus  IV  of  Commagene  (cf.  on  4  fin.  reges; 
81);  later  he  served  under  Titus  against  Jerusalem.  After  Ves- 
pasian annexed  Commagene  to  Syria,  Antiochus  and  Epiphanes 
were  permitted  to  live  at  Rome;  cf.  Joseph.  B.  I.  5,  11,  3;  7,  7,  1-3. 
—  pugnam  ciens:  cf.  Ann.  3,  41  pugnam  pro  Romanis  dens;  Hist. 
4,  78  pugnam  ciebant;  as  in  Livy  1,  12,  2;  3,  18,  8. 

26.  erupit:  until  now  they  had  taken  no  active  part  in  the 
battle.  —  protrita:  cf.  4,  17  protritos  Aeduos  Arvernosque. — 
simul:  i.e.  all  at  once;  cf.  below,  non  universi.  —  in  castris:  before 
Cremona.  —  praefectus  castrorum:  his  duties  included  general 
charge  of  the  camp  and  the  guard,  of  tents,  baggage-train,  artillery, 
hospital,  wood,  straw,  etc.,  and  often  fortification,  road-making, 
etc.;  cf.  on  1,  82  praefecto  legionis;  2,  29.  —  tanquam:  cf.  on  1, 
48  tanquam  .  .  .  furatus.  —  fratri  =  in  gratiam  fratris.  —  lulius 
Fronto:  cf.  1,  20  fin.  —  fugientes  occursantes,  etc.:  for  the 
asyndeton  of  contrasted  terms  cf.  41  fin.  adcurrentium  vocantium; 
42  comminus  eminus;  70  falsa  vera;  1,  3  fin.  laeta  tristia,  etc.  —  oc- 
cursantes =  qui  subveniebant,  above. — pro  vallo:  cf.  on  1,  36 
fin.  pro  vallo;  the  panic  extends  even  to  those  on  guard  at  the 


BOOK  II  197 

camp.  —  ferebat:  cf.  on  1  ferebat.  —  ne:  for  this  explanatory  use 
of  ne  cf.  on  23  n«  ...  tolerarent.  —  in  vulgus:  cf.  1,  71  fin. — 
adverse  rumore:  cf.  1,  73  adversa  .  .  .  fama;  Ann.  14,  11  Seneca 
adverso  rumore  erat.  They  no  doubt  charged  Paulinus  with 
treachery;  cf.  23  variis  criminibus  incessebant. 

27-51.  Second  period  of  the  war,  following  the  arrival  of 
Valens  and  culminating  in  the  first  battle  of  Bedriacum  and  suicide 
of  Otho. 

27.  perinde  .  .  .  quam:   cf.  on  1,  30  fin.  perinde  .  .  .  quam. — 
modestiam  =  good  discipline;   cf.  on  1,  60  modestia.  —  nee  solum 
.  .  .  quoque:  without  the  adversative;   cf.  non  modo  .  .  .  etiam, 
Ann.  3,  19;    4,  35;    16,  26  non  solum  Cossutianum  aut  Eprium 
.  .  .  superesse  qui,  etc.  —  Ticinum:    cf.  on  17.     His  route  to  the 
Cottian  Alps  was  given,  1,  66.     The  march  thence  via  Turin  to 
Pavia  is  left  undescribed.  —  reciperandi  decdris:    they  had  lost 
credit  by  the  defeat  in  the  Maritime  Alps  (14  f.)  and  by  a  mutiny 
(see  below).  —  alioquin  *=>  ceterum  or  at;  see  abundant  examples, 
esp.   from    Plin.    Sr.    and   Quint,   in  the  Thesaurus  I,   1593.  — 
repetam:    cf.  on  1,  4  repetendum.  —  bello  Neronis:    the  uprising 
of  Vindex  in  Gaul  and  Galba  in  Spain,  with  the  general  disorder 
to  which  they  gave  rise.     Neronis  is  obj.  gen.  —  digressas:    in 
Dalmatia;    cf.   on   11   eligendo.  —  rettulimus:     1,  59,   64.  —  ten- 
toria:    the  ace.  without  ad,  as  3,  24  ut  quosque  .  .  .  accesserat; 
Ann.  14,  35  ut  quamque  nationem  accesserat;    cf.  Sail.  lug.  62,  1 
lugurtham  .  .  .  accedit;    Verg.  Aen.  1,  201,  307;    with  ad,  Hist. 
1,16  (figurative  mg.).  —  accessissent:  on  the  iterative  subjv.  cf.  on 
1,   10  vacaret.  —  ablatam  .  .  .  Italiam:    they  claimed  that,  but 
for  them,  the  XlVth  would  have  marched  to  the  rescue,  and 
Italy  would  have  remained  loyal   to  Nero.  —  aut  —  modo  .  .  . 
modo;    here  connecting  things  both  of  which  are  true,  but  at 
different   times;     cf.   92   offensis  aut  .  .  .  blanditiis.     Cf.    1,   64 
iurgia  primum,  max  rixa.  —  suspectabafc    the  modern  sense  ap- 
pears first  in  Tac.;    cf.  3,  82  omnem  prolationem  .  .  .  suspecta- 
bant;    Ann.  11,  16  potentiam  eius  suspectantes. 

28.  nuntio  adlato:   the  news  probably  reached  him  somewhere 
between  the  pass   (Mt.  Genevre  =  Alpis  Cottia;    cf.   1,  61)  and 
Turin,  or  at  the  latter.  —  pulsam,  etc.:    cf.  14  f.  —  praevalidas: 
the   conclusion   of   si  ...  forent.  —  tot   bellorum   victores:    the 


198  NOTES 

same  phrase,  4,  58;  cf.  Ann.  4,  18  Sacroviriani  belli  victor.  — 
columen  =  culmination;  the  figure  is  from  the  highest  point  of 
a  building,  apex  of  a  gable,  ridge  of  the  roof,  etc.  The  other 
sense,  pillar,  prop,  support  is  inappropriate  here,  as  conflicting 
with  the  idea  of  motion  in  the  verb.  —  verteretur  =  hinged  upon, 
depended  upon,  rested  with;  cf.  Verg.  Aen.  10,  528  f.  non  hie  vic- 
toria Teucrum  \  vertitur,  a  passage  which  Tac.  may  have  had  in 
mind;  cf.  Livy  4,  31,  4  poscere  dictatorem;  in  eo  verti  spes  civi- 
tatis;  37,  7,  8  totum  id  vertitur  in  voluntate  Philippi.  —  ut:  omit 
in  translation. 

29.  iactando  =  iactantes;      cf.     48     laudando  .  .  .  castigando; 
manner,  rather  than  means,  very  freq.  in  Livy.  —  spolia  Gallia- 
rum,  etc.:   cf.  1,  63  fin.,  64.  —  Viennensium  aurum:   cf.  1,  66.  — 
pretia:    cf.   Ann.   15,   12  non  vicos  aut  oppida    Armeniorum,  sed 
castra  Romana  .  .  .  pretium  laboris  peti;    Agr.  12  aurum  et  argen- 
tum  .  .  .  pretium  victoriae.  —  tabernacula:    for  the  plur.   cf.   1, 
27  praedia,  and  the  regular  use  of  aedes.  —  lanceis:    cf.  on  1,  79 
lanceis.  —  Alfenus  Varus:    cf.  43   fin.;    Vitellius  made  him  prae- 
fectus  praetorio,   3,   36  fin.;    cf.   3,    55,  61;    4,   11.  —  praefectus 
castrorum:      cf.     on     26     praefectus     castrorum.  —  deflagrante  = 
flagrare  desinente;    cf.   Livy  40,  8,  9  deflagrare  iras  vestras  .  .  . 
posse.  —  consilium:   explained  by  the  following  abl.  abs.,  instead 
of   vetuit   enim,    etc.  —  obire  =  to   make   the  rounds. — deformis: 
referring    esp.    to    the    servilis   vestis,    above.  —  gaudium:      cf. 
Intr.    23.  —  favor  =  applause.  —  versi:     cf.    63    in   paenitentiam 
versus;    3,   62   in  desperationem  versi.  —  gratantes  =  gratulantes, 
the  latter  being  very  rare  in  Tac.;    cf.  Ann.  6,  50  multo  gratantum 
concursu;    12,  7  Claudius  .  .  .  praebet  se  gratantibus.  —  circum- 
datum,  etc.:  so  of  Otho,  1,  36.  —  aquilis:  i.e.  of  V  Alaudae  and  I 
Italica;  cf.  1,  61,  64.  —  dissimulans:  i.e.  if  he  took  no  notice;  cf. 
on  1,  73  dissimulantis.  —  paucos  incusavit:  so  Otho,  1,  84  f. 

30.  Ticinum:    cf.  27  and  on  17.  —  adversa  .  .  .  pugna:    that 
at  locus   Castorum,  24-26.  —  tanquam:     cf.   on   26   tanquam. — 
fraude  =  malitia.  —  cunctationlbus:    by  hendiadys  the  motive  as- 
signed and  objective  conduct  are  linked  together;  cf.  on  47  solaciis. 
—  anteire  signa:  cf.  on  1,  45  proximos.  —  iunguntur:  i.e.  at  Cre- 
mona.—  expositos:    silver  Latin  for  obiectos;    cf.   1,   11  fin.   ex- 
posita;   2,  53  expositum;  83  exponi  Vitellio;   3,  5  ne  .  .  .  barbaris 


BOOK  II  199 

nationibus  exponerentur.  —  tanto  pauciores:  Caecina's  30,000,  as 
against  Valens'  ca.  45,000,  i.e.  40,000  plus  I  Italica  and  the  ala 
Tauriana  (added  at  Lyons),  minus  the  troops  sent  to  Gall.  Narb.; 
cf.  1,  61,  64;  2,  14.  —  in  suam  ezcusationem:  for  the  coordina- 
tion of  prepositional  phrase  with  ptcp.  (attollentes)  cf.  Intr.  13. 

—  duplicatus,  etc.:    exaggerated  as  to  the  total  (cf.  on  tanto  pau- 
ciores, above),  but  understating  Valens'  superiority  in  legionaries. 

—  legionum:    i.e.  complete  legions  (two),  and  detachments  from 
others  (three).     Caecina  had  one  legion  and  vexilla  of  two  others. 
Cf.  1,  61,  64.  —  super:   cf.  on  8  super  similitudinem.  — promptior 

=  more  complaisant;  cf.  Ann.  4,  60  fin.  Agrippina  promptior 
Neroni  erat. —  vigore  aetatis:  cf.  1,  53,  where  he  was  decorus 
iuventa.  —  inani  =  unfounded,  i.e.  not  to  be  explained  by  the 
character  or  gifts  of  Caecina;  cf.  ib.  —  ut  foedum:  note  the 
ellipse  of  Valentem,  as  of  Caecinam  before  ut  tumidum.  —  foedum 
ac  maculosum:  the  same,  1,  7;  Valens'  vices  were  described  at 
1,  66;  cf.  3,  41.  —  inridebant:  for  the  plur.,  instead  of  class, 
sing.  cf.  on  1,  48  interfecerant;  cf.  also  2,  24  sumpsere;  31  meruere 
(but  ib.  Vitellius  .  .  .  Otho  .  .  .  ducebatur);  67  fin.  parabant; 
78  fin.  discessere;  86  tenebant;  92  pollebant.  —  utilitatem:  i.e.  the 
cau&e  of  the  Vitellians.  —  quamvis:  a  very  rare  use  with  the 
superl.;  in  Tac.  only  here  and  3,  28  quamvis  pessimo  flagitio. 
With  compar.  Ann.  3,  52  quamvis  graviora  and  Germ.  24  quam- 
vis iuvenior,  quamvis  robustior. 

31.  meruere:  cf .  on  30  fin.  inridebant.  —  flagrantissimae:  cf.  4, 39 
fin.  flagrantissimus  .  .  .  amor;    Ann.   11,  29  flagrantissima  .  .  . 
gratia;     13,   45  fin.  flagrantissimus    in    amicitia    Neronis.  —  sibi 
inhonestus:   i.e.  his  gluttony  concerned  no  one  directly  but  him- 
self;  cf.  Ann.  2,  38  sibi  ignavi,  nobis  graves.     On  Vitellius'  habits 
cf.  68,  71,  87. 

32.  fama:    for  the  achievements  of  Suetonius  Paulinus  cf.  on 
1,  87.  —  callidior:   with  gen.  on  the  analogy  of  peritus;   cf.  Ann. 
4,  33  callidi  temporum.  —  censere  —  to  give  his  opinion.  —  uni- 
versum:    Paulinus  is  not  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  five  legions, 
reduced  by  detachments,  had  been  left  behind  (cf.  on  1,  61),  not  to 
mention  auxiliaries;  but  argues  that  the  present  army  represents  all 
the  troops  Vitellius  can  venture  to  withdraw  from  the  frontier. — a 
tergo:  sc.  esse.  —  et  .  .  .  non:  f or  neque,  but  with  a  reason,  since 


200  NOTES 

non  conducat  —  was  inexpedient;  cf.  34  et  .  .  .  non  occultabant 
(Jailed  to  conceal);  56  et  prohibere  non  arm's;  cf.  below,  et  nullo. 
—  inrupturis:  the  abl.  abs.  with  fut.  ptcp.  begins  with  Livy;  cf .  86 
fin.  ceteris  fortunam  secuturis;  3,  56  peritissimis  centurionum  .  .  . 
vera  dicturis;  4,  39  hand  defutura  consciorum  manu.  —  Britanni- 
cum:  Vitellius  called  out  8000  legionaries  from  Britain;  cf.  57, 
100.  —  hoste  et  mari  distineri:  zeugma.  —  Hispanias:  cf.  on  1,  8 
for  the  legions  in  Spain.  —  et  nullo:  cf.  on  1,  31  et  nullo.  —  nullo 
maris  subsidio:  abl.  qual.  Otho's  Adriatic  fleet,  with  its  station 
at  Ravenna,  cut  off  all  approach  to  Transpadane  Italy  by  sea.  — 
iam  =  iam  vero  =  moreover.  —  tractor  conditional  in  force. — 
fluxis  corporibus:  in  place  of  a  causal  clause;  for  the  mg.  cf. 
Livy  on  the  Gauls,  —  10,  28,  4  Gallorum  .  .  .  corpora  intoleran- 
tissima  laboris  atque  aestus  fluere;  34,  47,  5  labor  et  aestus  mollia 
et  fluida  corpora  Gallorum  .  .  .  cum  decedere  pugna  coegisset.  Cf. 
22  aevofiuxa;  also  on  QQfluxa;  Germ.  4  fin.  minimeque  sitim  aestum- 
quetolerare,  etc.  —  taedia:  produced  by  the  morae;  contrast  fraude 
et  cunctationibus,  30  (v.  note).  —  opulenta:  in  a  wide  sense  = 
abounding  in  resources.  —  caput  rerum:  cf.  Ann.  1,  47  non  omittere 
caput  rerum.  —  obscura  =  empty,  meaningless;  cf.  1 ,  30  vacua 
nomina;  1,  55  oblitterata  iam  nomina.  —  Italiae  sueta:  for  the 
dat.  cf.  1,  4  fin.  theatris  sueta;  4,  17  suetus  regibus  Oriens;  5,  14 
fin.  Germanos  fluminibus  suetos.  —  aestibus:  i.e.  a  warm  climate, 
etc.,  the  use  of  the  plural  being  like  that  of  frigus,  e.g.  Agr.  12 
asperitas  frigorum  abest;  Germ.  16  fin.  rigorem  frigorum.  —  obia- 
cere:  from  above  Placentia  to  Cremona  and  below.  Further 
down  the  Othonians  held  both  banks,  and  Suetonius  does  not 
suggest  that  they  should  retire  to  the  south  bank.  —  defensione: 
rare  in  this  literal  mg.,  —  only  here  in  Tac.  —  exploratum:  sc. 
esse;  a  principal  clause  introduced  by  a  relative.  —  proinde:  cf. 
on  1,  21  proinde.  —  duceret:  sc.  Oiho,  who  was,  of  course,  presid- 
ing.—  quartam  decumam:  cf.  11.  —  adfore:  the  three  legions 
from  Moesia  (III  Gallica,  VII  Claudia,  VIII  Augusta)  had  al- 
ready reached  the  Adriatic  at  Aquileia;  cf.  46  fin.  —  certaturos: 
the  subj.  is  left  indefinite  (not  se  alone;  in  oratio  recta  we  should 
have  certabitur) ;  cf.  44  fin.  perituros. 

33.   idem:  the  unanimity  of  his  three  most  experienced  generals 
did  not  prevent  Otho  from  foolishly  risking  a  battle  at  once.  — 


BOOK  II  201 

Titianus:  recently  arrived  from  Rome,  to  take  over  the  chief  com- 
mand; cf.  23  fin.  —  praefectus:  for  Proculus'  appointment  by 
the  praetorians  themselves  cf.  1,  46;  he  was  an  intimate  friend 
of  Otho  (ib.).  —  imperitia:  abl.  cause;  cf.  34  inprudentia  rueret. 
—  numen:  a  conveniently  ambiguous  term,  which  to  some  would 
mean  only  the  genius  (5a.tfj.wv);  to  others  —  the  flatterers  —  it  would 
suggest  the  divinity  of  the  emperor.  In  the  latter  sense  the  word 
was  strictly  applicable  only  to  a  dead  emperor  who  had  been  dei- 
fied ;  but  at  Rome  the  Augustan  poets  started  the  fashion  of  apply- 
ing it  to  the  living  ruler;  cf.  Hor.  C.  4,  5,  34  f.  —  neu:  for  et  ne  of 
class,  prose,  since  the  connection  is  between  main  clauses,  while 
the  negative  belongs  to  the  subordinate.  —  adulationem:  their 
reference  to  his  numen,  among  other  flatteries.  —  postquam  .  .  . 
placitum:  sc.  est;  cf.  1,  1  postquam  bellatum  apud  Actium. — 
seponi:  i.e.  should  be  kept  at  a  safe  distance.  —  dubitavere  = 
deliberavere;  cf.  37  dubitasse  exercitus,  num,  etc.;  39  ibi  de  proelio 
dubitatum.  —  obiectare:  cf.  Ann.  2,  5  ut  .  .  .  Germanicum  dolo 
simul  et  casibus  obiectaret;  usually  in  the  sense  of  exprobrare. — 
Brixellum  =  Brescello,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Po,  30  m.p.  from 
Cremona,  40  from  Regium  Lepidum.  It  was  on  the  road  from 
Parma  to  Mantua.  —  concederet:  he  had  come  from  Brixellum 
to  attend  the  council  of  war,  and  now  returned;  cf.  39  init.; 
Suet.  Otho  9  nee  ulli  pugnae  affuit  substititque  Brixelli;  Plut.  Otho 
10  irdXiv  eis  Bpi£i\\ov  dvex^p^fff.  —  summae  rerum  =  supreme 
authority;  cf.  3,  70  de  summa  rerum  illic  certaret  (i.e.  for  the  im- 
perial power);  for  a  different  mg.  cf.  2,  81.  —  imperil:  added  to 
give  clearer  definition  to  the  idea  of  the  chief  command.  —  se 
ipsum:  emphasized  for  contrast  with  Titianus  and  the  rest.  — 
speculator  urn :  cf.  on  1,  24  speculatori.  —  discessit:  they  had  come 
with  Otho  from  Brixellum.  —  et  ipse:  cf.  on  1,  42  et  ipso. 

34.  ut:  cf.  on  1,  4  ut  erga  principem.  —  transfugiis:  for  the 
abstract  cf.  on  1,  39  fin.  diffugia.  —  et  .  .  .  non:  cf.  on  32  et 
.  .  .  non.  —  diversa :  the  mg.  is  fixed  by  the  contrast  with  sua; 
cf.  75  ex  diverse.  —  inprudentia:  cf.  33  imperitia  properantes. — 
ponte:  below  the  mouth  of  the  Adua,  and  ca.  5  m.p.  above  Cre- 
mona. —  gladiatorum:  those  commanded  by  Martius  Macer,  on 
the  right  bank;  cf.  23.  —  ac  ne:  for  coordination  of  simulantes 
with  a  ne-clause  cf.  Intr.  13.  —  segne  otium:  at  first  a  poetical 


202  NOTES 

metaphor,  but  also  employed  by  orators.  Quint,  compares  it 
with  praeceps  ira  and  hilaris  adolescentia  (8,  6,  27);  cf.  4,  5  segne 
otium;  4,  70  segne  plerumque  otium  trahens;  Ann.  14,  39  fin. 
honestum  pads  nomen  segni  otio  imposuit.  —  utrimque:  on  the 
adv.  with  attributive  position  and  force  cf.  on  15  iuxta;  he  means 
at  bow  and  stern.  —  adversum  .  .  .  dirigebantur  =  were  headed 
upstream.  —  super:  in  the  sense  of  supra  =  upstream;  others 
take  it  in  the  sense  of  insuper.  —  extent!  =  taut.  —  turris:  so 
Caesar,  wishing  to  prevent  the  use  of  his  second  Rhine  bridge  by 
the  Germans,  broke  down  200  feet  of  it,  nearest  the  right  bank, 
and  erected  a  four-story  tower  at  the  end,  —  in  extremo  ponte 
turrim  tabulatorum  quattuor  constituit,  B.  G.  6,  29,  3.  Caecina 
and  Valens  have  no  immediate  intention  of  completing  the  bridge; 
cf .  above,  transitum  Padi  simulantes;  but  cf .  also  41  init.  — 
tormentis  ac  machinis:  cf.  3,  20  fin.  advectis  tormentis  machinis- 
que. — faces:  according  to  Plutarch  Otho  10,  the  Othonians  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  the  Flavians'  boats,  which  capsized  in 
the  panic,  —  evidently  pontoons  to  lengthen  the  bridge,  but  not 
yet  in  position. 

35.  insula:  above  Cremona,  but  below  the  mouth  of  the  Adua 
( =  Adda);  probably  above  the  bridge  of  boats.  —  navibus:  in  con- 
trast with  nando. — molientes:  i.e.  toiling  at  their  oars;  contrasted 
with  the  ease  implied  in  praelabebantur ,  from  which  vehebantur 
is  to  be  supplied  by  zeugma.  —  praelabebantur:  i.e.  praevenie- 
bant.  The  Germans  —  mostly  Batavians  (cf.  17),  and  expert 
swimmers  —  crossed  obliquely,  no  doubt,  from  a  point  con- 
siderably above  the  island,  while  the  gladiators  tried  to  steer 
directly  across  the  current.  —  plures  transgresses:  translate  by  a 
temporal  clause.  —  Liburnicis:  cf.  on  16  Liburnicarum.  —  mili- 
tibus:  i.e.  soldiers  in  general.  —  perinde  .  .  .  quam:  cf.  on  27 
init.  —  nutantes:  general,  like  militibus,  —  i.e.  men  rocking  in 
boats.  —  stabili  gradu:  i.e.  men  who  have  a  firm  footing  on  the 
bank;  but  not  abl.  qual.  (as  in  Boeth.  Cons.  1,  1,  22  stabili  non 
erat  ille  gradu);  with  the  abl.  phrase  a  ptcp.  would  be  expected, 
—  here  boldly  omitted;  cf.  Livy  6,  12,  8  obnixos  .  .  .  stabili 
gradu.  Cf.  Curt.  8,  11,  13  instabili  et  lubrico  gradu  praecipites 
recidebant.  —  vulnera:  poetic  for  ictus;  cf.  Intr.  19;  Aen.  10, 
140  vulnera  derigere;  5,  433  inter  se  vulnera  iactant.  — propug- 


BOOK  II  203 

natores:  the  gladiators.  —  ultro:  for  its  use  of  one  who  takes 
the  offensive  cf.  on  1,  7  it/fro.  —  comminus:  i.e.  manibus.  —  in 
oculis:  sc.  acta;  cf.  1,  37  in  oculis.  —  utriusque  exercitus:  mean- 
ing, however,  only  detachments,  for  the  main  body  of  the  Vitel- 
lians  and  Othonians  were  at  Cremona  and  Bedriacum  respectively. 

—  auctorem:   i.e.  Macer;    cf.  36. 

36.  ad  exitium  poscebatur:    a  frequent  occurrence  in   the  dis- 
orders of  the  revolution  year;   cf.  3,  10  iam  pridem  invisus  turbine 
quodam  ad  exitium  poscebatur.  —  cum:    on  cum  inversum  cf .  on 
1,  29  init.  —  Flavius  Sabinus:    cf.  on  1,  77;    distinguished  from 
Vespasian's  brother,  the  praefectus  urbi,  by  the  addition  of  con- 
sulem  designatum.  —  copiis:    cf.  on  1,  22  Othoni.  —  ad:    cf.  on  8 
fin.  ad  celebritatem  nominis.  —  ducibus:   note  the  chiasmus,  which 
balances  milite  with  militiam.  —  inf estam  =  dangerous,  threaten- 
ing; i.e.  the  command  of  tarn  infesti  milites.  —  militiam  =  service, 
i.e.  command.     The  collective  sense  of  militia   ( =  milites}  is  so 
very  rare  that  its  use  here  is  improbable,  tempting  as  it  is,  in 
view  of  inf  estam  and  the  chiasmus. 

37.  invenio:   observe  the  elaborate,  periodic  style  of  this  chap- 
ter, in  marked  contrast  with  the  narrative.     It  suggests  the  style 
of  the  Dialogus;    Intr.  7  and  14.  —  auctores:    the  same  (source, 
or)  sources  were  used  by  Plut.  Otho  9.  —  dubitasse  =  deliberasse; 
cf .   on  33  dubitavere.  —  num  =  whether  they  should    not;    cf .  83 
num.  .  .  .  clauderet.  —  in  medium:    cf.  5  in  medium  consuluere. 

—  senatui,  etc.:    cf.   1,   12  senatui  ac  populo   Romano    arbitrium 
eligendi  permittere.  —  vetustissimus :   it  was  27  years  since  his  first 
consulship;   on  his  career  in  general,  his  achievements  in  Britain, 
etc.,  cf.  on  1,  87.  —  ut  .  .   .  ita  =  though  .  .  .  yet;    cf.  on  1,  4 
ut  .  .  .  et ;  with  potential  subjv.,  2,  50.  —  concesserim:    for  the 
potential  subjv.  cf.  on  1,  83  fin.  crediderim.  —  pacem  belli  amore, 
etc.:    this  rhetorical  figure  (antimetabole)  is  very  rare  in  Tac.; 
cf.  3,  33  quo  minus  stupra  caedibus,  caedes  stupris     miscerentur; 
Sen.  Ep.  104,  26  non  quia  difficilia  sunt,   non   audemus,  sed  quia 
non  audemus,  difficilia   sunt. — passuros:    sc.  fuisse;  a  frequent 
ellipse    in  the  Annals;    cf.  Ann.  4,  18  neque  mansurum  [fuisse] 
Tiberio  imperium,  si  .  .  .  fuisset. 

38.  vetus,  etc. :  in  this  chapter  also  Tac.  and  Plut.  (Otho  9)  must 
have  drawn  from  the  same  source.     Tac.  has  in  mind  the  language 


204  NOTES 

of  Sail.  Cat,  10  init.  and  Hist.  I.e.  below;  also  Thuc.  3,  82.  — 
aequalitas:  so  in  a  similar  digression  on  the  origin  of  laws,  Ann.  3, 
26  at  postquam  exui  aequalitas  et  pro  modestia  ac  pudore  ambitio  et 
vis  incedebat,  etc.  —  urbibus:  such  as  Carthage  and  Corinth.  — 
regibus:  as  those  of  Macedonia,  Syria,  etc.  —  vacuum  fuit:  imi- 
tated from  Sail.  Hist.  1,  fr.  12  M.  postquam  remoto  metu  Punico 
simultates  exercere  vacuum  fuit,  plurimae  turbae,  seditiones  et  ad  pos- 
tremum  bella  civilia  orta  sunt,  etc.  —  inter  patreb  plebemque:  Tac. 
passes  over  the  older  struggles  of  patricians  and  plebeians  to  speak 
of  the  far  more  serious  clash  of  interests  between  rich  and  poor, 
retaining,  however,  the  old  party  names.  Cf.  S.  Augustine,  C.  D. 

1,  30.  —  turbulent!  tribuni:   the  Gracchi,  Saturninus,  Drusus;   cf 
Ann.  3,  27  hinc  Gracchi  et  Saturnini,  turbatores  plebis,  nee  minor 
largitor  .  .  .  Drusus.  —  consules  praevalidi:   e.g.  L.  Opimius,  cos. 
121,  who  is  said  to  have  caused  the  death  of  three  thousand  par- 
tisans of  C.   Gracchus,  and  then  rebuilt  the  Temple  of  Concord ! 
Cf.  Plut.  C.  Gracch.  17  fin.,  18;  App.  B.C.  1,  26.— temptamenta: 
i.e.  prelude,  meaning  the  struggles   precipitated  by  the  Gracchi. 

—  eplebe  infima:  in  agreement  both  with  Plut.  Marius  3,  and  Veil. 

2,  128  ignotae  originis.     In  Veil.  2,  11  the  Mss.  read  natus  equestri 
loco,  but  the  emendation  agresti  is   sustained   by   the  following 
phrase,  hirtus  atque  horridus.  —  et  nunquam  =  nee  unquam;  cf.  on 
32  et  nullo.  —  quaesitum  =  certatum;  cf.  Ann.  2,  74  inter  Vibium 
Marsum  et  Cn.  Sentium  diu  quaesitum.  —  in  Pharsalia:    cf.  on  1, 
50  Pharsaliam. — posituri  bellum:    ponere  bellum  (=  deponere)  is 
the  opposite  of  sumere  bellum  (on  the  analogy  of  sumere  arma)] 
cf.   Livy  8,  4,  3  bellis  .  .  .  ponendis  sumendisque;    Hist.  2,  52 
posito  ubique  bello ;  3,  31  cum  bellum  posuissent;  4,  70,  72;  3,  43 
bellum  sponte  sumebant;  4,  66  bellum  sumpsimus.  —  ignavia:  cf.  on 
7  ignaviam;  cf.  60  pietate  et  ignavia   excusatus;    94  super  insitam 
animo  ignaviam. — venio:  the  usual  formulas  of  return  after  di- 
gression have  redeo;  cf.   Ann.   12,  40  fin.  ad  temporum  ordinem 
redeo;  ib.  4,  33  fin.  sed  ad  iaceptum  redeo.     Here  Tac.  appears  to 
have  purposely  departed  from  stereotyped  phraseology. 

39.   profecto:  cf.  on  33  concederet.  —  praetendebantur:  the  figure 
is  from  a  cloak  or  other  covering;  translate  were  scapegoats  for,  etc. 

—  ambigui:    not  wavering,  or  divided  (since  the  quod-cl&use  pre- 
supposes a  certain  agreement),  but  not  to  be  depended  upon;  cf .  3, 35 


BOOK  II  205 

ne  .  .  .  ambigue  [i.e.  dubiafide]  agerent;  4,  56  inter  ambiguos  mili- 
tes  et  occultos  hostes.  —  interpretari:  i.e.  criticise.  —  ad  quartum: 
sc.  lapidem;  cf.  24  ad  duodecumum.  —  a  Bedriaco:  cf.  on  23  Bedri- 
acum.  But  the  old  camp  was  still  maintained,  with  Gallus  in  com- 
mand; cf.  44.  —  quanquam:  cf.  on  1,  83  quanquam.  —  verno  tern- 
pore:  the  middle  of  April.  —  circum:  on  the  attributive  position 
and  use  cf.  on  15  iuxta.  —  fatigarentur :  naturally  not  on  the 
same  day;  cf.  PAPA.  XL,  Ixv  fin.  —  dubitatum  =  deliberatum;  cf. 
on  33  dubitavere.  —  trans  Padum  agentes:  the  troops  with  Otho, 
and  the  gladiators  now  commanded  by  Flavius  Sabinus;  cf.  33,  36. 
40.  ad  bellandum:  i.e.  with  all  their  baggage.  It  was  the  next 
day  (Plut.  Otho  11).  Titianus  and  Proculus  seem  to  have  assumed 
that  the  Vitellians,  hindered  by  the  enmity  of  Caecina  and  Valens, 
were  not  ready  to  fight.  As  for  themselves,  they  did  not  plan  a 
battle  on  this  day,  until  after  Otho's  messenger  arrived  (see  below). 
—  confluentes  Padi  et  Aduae :  the  Adua  (or  Addua,  now  Adda)  emp- 
ties into  the  Po  about  7  m.p.  above  Cremona.  —  XXV  inde  milium; 
the  Mss.  have  sedecim,  probably  a  confusion  of  XXV  with  XVI,  the 
latter  figure  being  irreconcilable  with  the  rest  of  the  narrative. 
The  position  at  the  mouth  of  the  Adda  was  strategic,  if  the 
Vitellians  were  to  be  inclosed,  and  their  communications  with  the 
north  and  west  severed;  but  it  could  not  be  safely  occupied,  and 
the  inclosure  begun,  with  the  present  troops  of  the  Othonians;  and 
they  were  too  impatient  to  wait  for  the  reinforcements  already 
approaching.  Titianus  and  Proculus  were  ready  to  carry  out 
their  rash  plan  to  march  past  Cremona,  when  the  arrival  of  Otho's 
messenger  decided  them  to  attack  the  enemy  instead.  —  abnu- 
entibus :  i.e.  before  they  broke  camp.  —  quo  minus :  for  quin,  as  often 
in  Tac.;  cf.  1,  18;  Agr.  20  nihil  .  .  .  quietumpati,  quo  minus,  etc.; 
ib.  27  fin.  nihil  ex  adrogantia  remittere,  quo  minus,  etc.  The  subor- 
dinate clause  is  really  of  equal  importance  with  the  main  clause, 
to  which  it  stands  in  an  adversative  relation.  Cf.  below,  45  nee 
.  .  .  dubitatum,  quo  minus;  Ann.  1,  21.  —  vix  quattuor  milia:  i.e. 
the  assumed  radius  of  the  semicircle  which  the  Othonians  would 
describe  in  passing  from  the  Via  Postumia  around  to  the  north  of 
Cremona  and  the  Vitellian  lines.  At  any  point  along  that  semicircle 
they  would  be  liable  to  a  flank  attack.  —  vallum:  i.e.  at  the  con- 
fluence of  the  Adda  and  the  Po.  Paulinus  and  Celsus  are  conceding 


206  NOTES 

for  the  sake  of  argument  that  the  reckless  flank-march  has  actually 
been  accomplished.  —  vincerentur:  for  the  iterative  subjv.  cf.  on  1, 
10  vacaret.  —  aderat:  while  they  were  still  debating;  cf.  Plut. 
Otho  11.  —  citus  equo:  cf.  1,  40  rapidi  equis.  —  atrocibus  =  sum- 
mary, threatening;  cf.  1,  53  atrocibus  edictis.  According  to  Plut. 
I.e.  Otho  ordered  them  to  attack  the  enemy  at  once.  —  spei  in- 
patiens:  cf.  99  inpatiens  solis,  etc.;  Ann.  4,  3  inpatiens  aemuli; 
ib.  72  obsequii  inpatientes;  12,  30  obsidionis  inpatientes. 

41.  eodem  die:  14th  April.  —  pontis:  cf.  on  34  ponte.  —  cum: 
on  the  cum  inversum  cf.  on  1,  29  init.  —  vel:  subordinated  to  an; 
i.e.  the  second  member  of  the  ind.  quest,  offers  alternatives:  if  not 
treachery  towards  Otho,  they  may  have  planned  something  that 
was  not  dishonorable.  —  coeptaverint:  the  sequence  is  what  would 
be  expected  if  incertum  est  had  preceded,  i.e.  the  mind  passes  from 
the  contemporary  view  to  the  judgment  of  history;  cf.  on  1,  7 
nequiverint;  2,  46  fin.  dubitet.  —  revectus:  he  had  five  or  six  miles 
to  ride.  —  incastra:  the  main  camp,  east  of  Cremona;  cf.  3,  26. — 
agminis:  they  were  to  march  out  and  then  form  their  acies,  but 
position  in  the  column  would  determine  that  in  the  line.  —  equites 
prorupere:  the  battle  opens  with  a  charge  by  the  Vitellian  cavalry, 
brilliantly  repulsed  by  the  Othonians.  According  to  a  speech  in 
3,  2,  duae  tune  Pannonicae  ac  Moesicae  alae  perrupere  Tiostem  (sc. 
equites  Vitellianos).  —  Italicae:  cf.  on  1,  59  Italica;  this  legion  was 
evidently  at  the  head  of  the  agmen,  marching  out.  It  does  not 
seem  to  have  had  a  place  in  the  acies,  but  probably  formed  a  re- 
serve. In  the  center  along  the  Via  Postumia  were  German  auxili- 
aries, with  XXI  Rapax  on  the  right,  and  V  Alaudae  on  the  left  (cf. 
42  fin.,  43).  The  cavalry,  after  their  first  rout,  no  doubt  took  their 
position  on  the  wings.  —  arbustis:  cf.  the  obstacles  at  locus  Cas- 
torum,  25 ;  also  42  per  locos  arboribus  ac  vineis  inpeditos.  —  vehicula : 
having  broken  camp  at  the  4th  milestone  from  Bedriacum  (cf.  39), 
they  had  brought  their  baggage  train.  —  lixae:  cf.  on  1,  49  lixas.  — 
via:  sc.  Postumia;  cf.  24  viae,  and  on  23  Bedriacum.  —  sign  a:  the 
incomplete  formation  of  the  Othonian  line  appears  to  have  been 
this:  in  the  center  the  praetorians,  along  the  Postumia,  with  Ger- 
man auxiliaries  in  reserve;  on  the  right  the  Xlllth  legion,  with  a 
vexillum  of  the  XlVth,  and  probably  other  detachments;  on  the 
left,  towards  the  Po,  the  1st  Adiutrix,  with  further  legionaries;  cf. 


BOOK   II  207 

43  f.  —  adcurrentium:  cf.  on  26fugientes  occursantes.  —  ut  cuique, 
etc.:  with  the  threefold  antithesis  contrast  Livy's  animus  suus 
cuique  ante  aut  post  pugnandi  ordinem  dabat,  22,  5,  8  (at  the  Trasi- 
mene). 

42.  falsum  gaudium  =  an  unfounded  joy  =  a  disappointment; 
cf.  4,  38  falsos  pavores;    4,  46  falso  timori.     The  three  states  of 
mind  —  terror,  gaudium,  languor  —  swiftly  succeed  one  another.  — 
dispersus:   for  the  omission  of  sit  in  ind.  quest,  cf.  on  23  acta.  — 
ultro:  cf.  on  1,  7  ultra.  —  plerisque  .  .  .  ignaris:  dat.,  as  in  66  his 
fidudam  et  metum  Batavis  fecissent.  —  quae  causa:  sc.  esset;  cf.  on 
dispersus  above.  —  impeditos :  cf.  25  fin.  —  fades:  i.e.  species;  cf. 
1,  85  fades  belli;  2,  89  fin.  decora  fades.  —  comminus  eminus:  cf.  on 
41  fin.  adcurrentium.  —  catervis:    abl.  manner  =  per  catervas,  etc.; 
cf.  3,  29  dumnituntur  cuneis;  Ann.  4,  51  catervis  decurrentes;  cuneus 
is  here  loosely  used  for  a  column.  —  in  aggere  viae:  sc.  Postumiae; 
cf.  24  fin.  aggerem  viae;    here  apparently  were  the  praetorians  at 
first  (cf .  on  41  signa),  opposite  German  auxiliaries,  who  were  armed 
with  secures  (cf.  below).     But  according  to  Plut.  Otho  12  fin.  the 
praetorians  (whose  position  neither  he  nor  Tac.  states)  did  not 
wait  for  the  enemy  to  come  to  close  quarters,  but  fled  incon- 
tinently.    The  gap  was  probably  filled  by  Otho's  German  auxil- 
iaries from  Rome,  who  recognized  former  comrades  among  their 
antagonists.  —  noscentes  inter  se:  this  could  not  apply  to  prae- 
torians, nor  to  other  than  German  auxiliaries. 

43.  patent!  campo:  cf.  the  2d  battle  of  Bedriacum,  when  the 
Xlllth  legion  was  in  ipso  viae  Postumiae  aggere  and  VII  Galbiana 
stood  patenti  campo  (3,  21).  —  duae  legiones:   according  to  Plut. 
Otho  12,  the  only  legions  which  fought  in  regular  formation  for  any 
length  of  time.  —  unaetvicensima:   cf.  on  1,  61  ducebat.  —  prima: 
cf.  on  1,  6  e  classe.  —  non  ante,  etc.:   in  the  engagement  at  locus 
Castorum  (24)  this  legion  had  a  position  dextrafronte,  but  there  was 
no  chance  for  serious  fighting.  —  ferox:    cf.  on   1,  59  ferox.— 
principiis  =•=  primis  ordinibus.  —  interfecto:    on  the  aoristic  pctp. 
cf.  on  1,  20  relicta;   Intr.  12.  —  C.  Orfidius  Benignus:   cf.  45  fin.; 
Plut.  Otho  12.  —  a  parte  alia:   on  the  Othonian  right,  beyond  the 
road.  —  tertia  decuma:  at  locus  Castorum  (24)  only  a  vexillum  was 
present,  but  by  this  time  probably  the  rest  of  the  legion  had  ar- 
rived with  the  legatus,  Vedius  Aquila  (44).     Suetonius'  father  was 


208  NOTES 

at  the  time  a  tribune  of  this  legion,  and  present  at  this  battle,  Otho 
10.  —  quartadecumani:  i.e.  a  vexillum  only;  that  the  body  of  the 
legion  had  not  yet  arrived  is  proved  by  66  vexillariis  tantum  pulsis 
vires  legionis  non  adfuisse.  —  subsidiis:  referring  mainly,  perhaps, 
to  I  Italica;  cf.  on  41  Italicae.  —  Varus:  cf.  29.  —  Batavis:  cav- 
alry; cf.  Plut.  Otho  12.  —  fusa  gladiatorum  manu:  not  to  be  con- 
fused with  the  story  of  35.  —  latus:  naturally  that  nearer  to  the 
river,  the  left  flank,  i.e.  I  Adiutrix;  for  the  ace.  with  invehi  cf.  1,  40 
forum  irrumpunt. 

44.  media  acie:  i.e.  the  German  auxiliaries  who  had  taken  the 
position  of  the  routed  praetorians;  cf.  on  42  in  aggere  viae.  — pas- 
sim =  pell-mell  (but  all  in  the  same  direction).  —  Bedriacum:  the 
nearer  camp  at  the  4th  milestone  had  been  dismantled;  cf.  40  init. 

—  inmensum:    assuming  that  the  battle  was  fought  within  four 
miles  of  Cremona,  the  distance  would  be  about  18  m. p.;   cf .  on  23 
Bedriacum.  —  neque  .  .  .  in  praedam  vertuntur:  since  there  is  no 
market  for  such  slaves;  cf.  3,  34  fin.  —  diver  sis  =  different;  natu- 
rally they  would  keep  away  from  the  Postumia.  —  Vedius  Aquila : 
he  is  still  legatus  of  this  legion  in  3,  7.  —  inconsultus:  in  contrast 
with  the  prudence  of  Paulinus  and  Proculus.  —  manibus:  meton. 

—  desertorem  proditoremque:   cf.  Intr.  14;  ut  would  be  expected. 

—  crimine  .  .  .  obiectantes:  for  the  variety  cf.  Intr.  13.  —  Annius 
Gallus:  still  in  command  of  the  camp  at  Bedriacum,  doubtless  be- 
cause he  had  not  yet  recovered  from  his  fall;  cf .  33  init.  —  super  =• 
praeter;  cf.  on  1,  8  super.  —  suismet  ipsi:  the  frequent  substitution 
of  ipsi  (ipse,  etc.)  for  the  logical  ipsorum;   common  in  Livy,  and 
found  even  in  Cic.,  e.g.  de  Oral.  2,  8  ex  scriptis  .  .  .  ipsi  suis.     Cf. 
Hist.  3,  16  fin.  suomet  ipsi  metu.  —  non  virtute,  etc.:   cf.  Agr.  27 
non  virtute  se,  sed  occasione  et  arte  ducis  victos  rati.  —  proditione:  re- 
ferring perhaps  to  the  incident  mentioned  in  42  omisso  pugnae 
ardore  .  .  .  metum  proditionis  fecere.     The  metus  proditionis  has 
now   become   proditio.  —  ne  .  .  .  quidem  =  not  .  .  .  either;     cf. 
on   1,  29  fin.  —  pulso:     cf.   41.  —  rapta  .  .  .  aquila:    cf.   43. — 
militum  quod  .  .  .  fuerit:    cf.  55  quod  erat  in  urbe  militum;   4,  15 
et  quod  militum;    Ann.  14,  32  fin.  legionem,  et  quod  peditum  inter- 
fecit;   possibly  Germ.  15  vel  armentorum  velfrugum  quod  .  .  .  sub- 
venit;  found  in  Caes.  and  Livy.  —  trans  Padum:  cf.  33,  39  fin.  — 
Moesicas  legiones:    cf.  32  fin.  —  magnam  .  .  .  partem:    besides 


BOOK  II  209 

the  camp  garrison,  no  doubt  uncommonly  large,  since  Bedriacum 
was  the  base  of  operations,  there  were  probably  fresh  arrivals  from 
Pannonia  and  Dalmatia,  perhaps  the  detachments  of  VII  Galbiana 
and  XI  Claudia;  cf.  11.  —  si  ita  ferret:  a  very  rare  expression; 
class.  Latin  would  require  a  subject,  res  or  fors;  cf.  Ann.  3,  15 
sociam  .  .  .  et,  si  ita  ferret  comitem.  —  perituros:  the  subj.  is  in- 
definite, i.e.  se  and  the  others  (not  hos);  cf.  32  fin.  certaturos.  —  ad 
.  .  .  in:  cf.  Intr.  13. 

45.  ad  quintum:    this  respectful  distance  is  explained  by  the 
fact  that  they  were  to  bivouac  in  the  open  plain.  —  castrorum:  by 
this  time  the  camp  at  Bedriacum  must  have  been  thoroughly  for- 
tified. —  sperabatur:  in  class.  Latin  it  would  have  been  deditionem 
sperabant.  —  expeditis,  etc.:  hence  without  the  necessary  tools  for 
fortification.  —  dubitatum,  quo  minus:  one  would  expect  quin,  or, 
if  the  personal  constr.  had  been  used,  the  inf.;  cf.  on  40  quo  minus. 
For  a  typical  example  of  adversative  quin  cf.  Livy  33,  36,  12  nee 
ultra  sustinuere  certamen    Gfalli,   quin  terga   verterent,   etc. ;    Ter. 
Phorm.  972.     For  quo  minus  cf.  Ann.  5,  5  nee  ultra  deliberatum,  quo 
minus,  etc.  —  legati:  Celsus  and  Gallus  according  to  Plut.  Otho  13. 
—  an:   cf.  on  1,  8  an.  —  in  lacrimas  effusi:   cf.  Ann.  3,  23  effusi  in 
lacrimas;  Livy  44,  31,  13  ad  preces  lacrimasque  effusus;  Suet.  Aug. 
98  in  iocos  effusus  est;   Cal.  32  effusus  subito  in  cachinnos.  —  misera 
laetitia:   oxymoron.     The  whole  pass,  is  highly  rhetorical.  —  isdem 
tentoriis:  cf.  on  1,  55  hibernis.  —  in  ambiguo,  certa:  note  chiasmus 
combined  with  variety;    Intr.  13;   for  in  ambiguo  cf.  on  1,  37  in 
incerto.  —  Orfidii  legati:   cf.  43.  —  super  humum  =  humi. 

46.  opperiebatur :  at  Brixellum  (cf.  39),  only  30  m.p.  from  Cre- 
mona.    The  news  must  therefore  have  reached  him  the  same  even- 
ing (14th  Apr.).  Tac.  gives  no  indication  of  time  until  the  next  even- 
ing, 49  vesperascente  die;  but  we  may  assign  46-47  to  the  evening 
of  the  14th,  48-49  init.  to  the  night  and  the  next  morning.  —  con- 
silii  certus:  cf.  Ann.  12,  32  destinationis  cerium;  Dial.   13  incertus 
futuri;  poetic  and  silver  Latin ;   cf .  below,  83  ambiguus  consilii.  — 
maesta:  poetic  personification  of  fama.  —  militum:  for  the  troops 
with  Otho  cf .  33  fin.  —  haberet :  for  the  class,  habere;  old  Latin  had 
used  iubeo  with  subj v.  paratactic ;  cf .  Ter.  Haul.  737  iube  maneat.  — 
ire  ...  flagrabrant:   for  the  poetic  constr.  cf.  Intr.  16.  —  furore 
.  .  .  et  instinctu:  not  hendiadys,  though  the  translator  may  treat 


210  NOTES 

it  as  such;  cf.  1,  57  fin.  instinctu  et  impetu;  Ann.  14,  16  non  impetu 
el  instinctu.  —  Plotius  Firmus:  cf.  1,  46;  he  is  in  command  at 
Brixellum.  —  fidissimum:  it  is  still  night;  in  the  morning  (15th) 
they  were  ready  to  desert  Otho.  —  maiore  animo :  for  the  emphasis 
on  the  opening  phrase  cf.  on  1,  56  fin.  minore  discrimine;  2,  20  in 
nullius  iniuriam.  —  ut  =  prout;  cf.  10  prout  potens,  etc.  —  flexe- 
rat:  an  intimation  that  he  might  yield  to  persuasion.  —  clamor  = 
applause.  —  praetoriani:  sc.  ita  perseverabant  —  a  telescoping  of 
the  first  clause  with  the  second;  cf.  Intr.  26  fin.  —  legiones:  cf. 
32  fin.  —  dubitet:  sequence  is  necessarily  violated,  to  introduce  the 
judgment  of  history;  cf.  41  coeptaverint.  As  matters  stood  that 
night,  the  war  could  have  been  renewed.  But  the  surrender  of 
the  troops  at  Bedriacum  the  next  day  (45)  without  consulting 
Otho,  precluded  any  such  possibility. —  potuisse:  the  ace.  and 
inf.  is  used  with  non  dubitare  even  in  the  Dial.  (18).  Though 
avoided  by  Cic.  and  Caes.  it  is  found  in  letters,  e.g.  from  Trebonius 
to  Cic.  (12,  16,  2),  from  Cic.  jr.  to  Tiro  (16,  21,  2),  in  Nepos,  Hir- 
tius,  and  freq.  in  Livy. 

47.  experti,  etc. :  the  friendship  of  Nero,  and  then  disgrace,  the 
sudden  rise  to  power,  followed  by  a  sudden  fall,  —  all  these  ex- 
periences have  left  nothing  more  to  be  discovered,  either  by  fortune 
as  to  his  mettle,  or  by  himself  as  to  her  favors.  —  nee  =  neve;  cf. 
on  1,  84  nee;  and  nee  below.  —  conputaveritis :  indef.  subj.  —  felici- 
tati:  dat.  with  temperare  =  cum  temperantia  uti;  cf.  3,  31  qui  nuper 
Bedriaci  victoriae  temperassent;  for  another  use  of  temperare  with 
dat.  cf.  1,  69.  —  civile  bellum  .  .  .  coepit:  the  thought  is  then  re- 
peated in  another  form  to  give  symmetry  to  the  period  (four  mem- 
bers); cf.  Intr.  14.  —  illinc  =  from  that  quarter;  cf.  .Ann.  15,  33  inde 
initium  fore;  Hist.  3,  14  initio  a  quinta  legione  orto.  —  fratre,  etc.: 
cf.  1,  88;  2,  64;  1,  75;  the  mother  (1,  75;  2,  64)  is  omitted,  as  the 
most  extravagant  ultio  would  hardly  extend  to  her.  —  solaciis: 
hendiadys  with  ultione,  i.e.  the  consolation  of  vengeance;  the  one 
term  covers  the  external  act,  the  other  its  subjective  interpreta- 
tion; cf.  on  19  metum  ac  discrimen;  on  30  cunctationibus .  —  tenu- 
erint:  concession.  —  reliquerit  =  may  leave  it;  potential  of  present 
time;  cf.  1,  79  obstiterit.  —  Romanae  pubis:  i.e.  esp.  the  praetori- 
ans; cf.  1,  84  Romana  vere  iuventus.  —  tanquam,  etc.:  here  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  obliqua;  cf.  on  1,  8  tanquam  .  .  .  fovissent.  — 


BOOK  II  211 

pars  =  a  proof;  used  several  times  by  Tac.  in  this  sense;  cf.  Agr. 
21  fin.  cum  pars  servitutis  esset;  Hist.  3,  46  fin.  pars  consilii  pacisque 
erat.  —  nemine:  instead  of  the  usual  nullo;  the  rare  abl.  of  nemo 
is  also  found  in  Ann.  16,  27  nemine  nominatim  compellato. 

48.  irent  .  .  .  asperarent:    governed  by  appellatos;    with  his 
kind  words  (comiter)  were  mingled  words  of  counsel.  —  aspera- 
rent =  exasperarent;    cf.  Intr.  17.  —  naves:    to  bear  them  down 
the  Po,  or  across,  on  their  way  to  Bedriacum.  —  libellos  =  peti- 
tions. —  L.  Salvius  Otho  Cocceianus:  according  to  Plut.  Otho  16, 
Otho  planned  to  adopt  his  nephew  after  the  war;   for  his  fate 
see  below.  —  ultro  =  actually;   cf.  on  1,  7  ultro.  —  laudando:  cf. 
on   29   iactando.  —  an   Vitellium  .  .  .  fore:    rhetorical   question; 
cf.  on  1,  50  ituros.  —  tota  domo:    cf.  47.  —  poscente:    true  only 
of  the  praetorians  and  speculatores  at  Brixellum.     But  Otho  is 
still  unaware  of  the  surrender  of  Titianus  and  the  rest  at  Bedria- 
cum. —  Servios:    meaning  Galba,  whose  praenomen   Servius  was 
peculiar  to  the  Sulpician  family.  —  neu  patruum,  etc. :  cf .  Gibbon, 
Decline  and  Fall,  chap.  40,  "Hypatius  and  Pompey,  two  patri- 
cians, who  could  neither  forget  with  honour,  nor  remember  with 
safety,  that  they  were  the  nephews  of  the  emperor  Anastasius," 
—  one  of  Gibbon's  many  imitations  of  Tac.  —  nimhim  meminis- 
set:    according  to  Suet,  he  was  put  to  death  by  Domitian,  quod 
Othonis  imperatoris  patrui  sui  diem  natalem  celebraverat   (Dom. 
10).     Tac.  is  fond  of  hinting  at  coming  calamities;    cf.  59  fin., 
70  med.  and  fin.,  90  fin. 

49.  post  quae  =  postea;    so   inter  quae  =  inter ea  4,  46,  etc.  — 
volutantem:    cf.  on  1,  30  volvit.  —  consternations :    cf.  1,  83  fin. 
consternatione  proximo.  —  abeuntibus:    who  they  were,  is  shown 
by  iam  profectos  amicos,  below.  —  Verginius:    he  is  at  present 
consul;    cf.  1,  77;   for  his  record  cf.  on  1,  8;    below,  51.  —  digre- 
derentur:    purpose.  —  vesperascente   die  =  vesperi;    the  verb  is 
very  rare;   cf.  Ann.  1,  65;    16,  34.     By  this  time  Otho  must  have 
been  informed  of  the  surrender  of  Titianus  and  the  rest,  but  Tac. 
refrains  from  mentioning  the  fact,  since  the  motive  of  self-renun- 
ciation is  essential  to  his  carefully  constructed  tragedy.  —  gelidae: 
i.e.  ice-cold,  a  detail  omitted  by  Plut.  Otho  17,  but  preserved  by 
Suet.   11.  —  duobus:    without  Ms.  authority,  but  restored  with 
certainty  from  utrumque,  alterum,  —  also  Plut.    and   Suet.  11  .cc. 


212  NOTES 

Cf.  Suet.  Nero  49.  —  capiti:  cf.  Intr.  20.  —  explorato:  cf.  3,  20 
nisi  explorato;  1,  84  fin.  auspicato;  this  impers.  abl.  abs.  with  a 
whole  clause  was  very  rare  before  Livy;  cf.  4,  36  conperto  pecu- 
niam  .  .  .  missam;  for  ace.  and  inf.  with  explorare  cf.  4,  82  fin. 
cxplorat  .  .  .  afuisse;  above,  32  fin.  nullam  .  .  .  cessuram  .  .  . 
exploratum  \esse\.  —  luce  prima:  16th  April,  —  the  second  morn- 
ing after  the  battle. — pectore:  again  avoiding  too  great  preci- 
sion; cf.  Suet.  Otho  11  infra  laevam  papillam.  —  ambitiosis  =  im- 
portunate; the  self-interest  involved  in  ambitio  has  here  to  do  with 
possible  indignities  to  his  remains;  cf.  Cic.  Ep.  6,  12,  2  ambitiosae 
rogationes;  Cod.  Theod.  14,  3,  20  occultis  vel  ambitiosis  .  .  .  pre- 
cibus;  Quint.  6,  3,  68  qui  promnciam  ambitiosissime  petierat.  — • 
exosculantes:  cf.  on  1,  45  exosculari.  —  noxa:  i.e.  a  sense  of  guilt, 
of  duty  undone  towards  Otho.  —  ob  metum:  i.e.  from  the  Vitel- 
lians.  —  promisee:  cf.  1,  47  promisee  iacta.  —  sepulchrum:  at 
Brixellum;  Plut.  had  seen  it,  and  gives  the  brief  inscription,  Otho 
18.  Vitellius  visited  the  tomb,  and  after  insolently  remarking 
dignum  eo  mausoleo  [ilium  fuisse],  sent  the  pugio  to  Cologne,  to 
be  placed  in  its  temple  of  Mars;  Suet.  Vit.  10.  —  mansurum:  i.e. 
on  account  of  its  modesty.  —  finem,  etc. :  the  date  of  Otho's 
death  (16th  Apr.)  is  determined  by  Josephus'  statement  that  he 
reigned  three  months  and  two  days  (i.e.  from  15th  Jan.;  B.  I.  4,  9, 
9).  Suet.'s  "95th  day"  is  reckoned  to  the  date  when  the  news 
reached  Rome,  Otho  11;  cf.  below,  55. 

60.  Ferentium:  in  Etruria,  now  Ferento,  north  of  Viterbo. 
That  this  is  the  correct  form  of  the  name  is  shown  by  inscriptions, 
e.g.  CIL.  XI,  2710  a,  3003.  Among  other  extant  remains  is  a 
primitive  theater.  Cf.  Suet.  Otho  1  oppido  Ferentio.  —  pater: 
L.  Salvius  Otho,  cos.  suff.  in  33;  procos.  Africae;  cf.  Suet.  Otho  1, 
Galba  6.  —  avus:  M.  Salvius  Otho,  son  of  a  knight,  but  was  made 
senator  by  the  favor  of  the  empress  Livia;  Suet.  Otho  1.  —  ma- 
ternum  genus:  his  mother,  Albia  Terentia,  was  evidently  of  the 
equestrian  order;  Suet.  I.e.  —  monstravimus:  viz.  in  1,  13.— 
facinoribus:  in  the  colorless  sense.  —  egregio:  not  merely  for  the 
courage  he  displayed,  but  for  his  patriotism  in  forestalling  any 
attempts  to  prolong  the  civil  war.  —  ut  .  .  .  ita:  cf.  on  37  ut 
.  .  .  ita;  1,  4.  —  crediderim  .  .  .  ausim:  cf.  on  1,  83  fin.  credi- 
derim.  —  Bedriaci:  in  spite  of  the  distance  at  which  the  battle 


BOOK  II  213 

took  place  Tac.  uses  the  loc.  instead  of  apud  B.  —  Regium  Lepi- 
dum:  17  m.p.  S.E.  of  Brixellum,  on  the  Via  Aemilia,  between 
Parma  and  Mutina  (17  m.p.  from  the  latter),  now  Reggio.  — 
celebri  luco:  for  the  abl.  alone  cf.  on  1,  55  hibernis.  —  deinde  = 
from  that  time  on;  cf .  85  fin.  nee  deinde  civili  bello  interfuit.  — 
ex  oculis:  cf.  on  1,  37  in  oculis.  —  reputantibus :  an  extension  of 
the  use  of  the  dat.  in  indicating  directions  (not  in  Cic.),  e.g.  left, 
or  right,  intranti,  etc.  Livy  rarely  uses  the  dat.  of  the  person 
judging,  reckoning,  etc.,  but  Tac.  has  it  frequently;  cf.  Agr.  11 
and  Germ.  6  in  universum  aestimanti;  Hist.  3 ,  8  reputantibus; 
4,  17  vere  reputantibus.  This  Graecism  (?)  never  became  common 
except  with  Tac.  —  exitu:  the  "passing  of  Otho"  began  with  the 
morning  of  the  battle.  At  that  time  the  strange  bird  appeared, 
and  remained  until  the  morning  of  the  16th.  For  this  wider 
sense  of  exitus  cf .  5  exitu  demum  Neronis.  —  competisse  —  con- 
gruisse. 

61.  novata:    cf.  Intr.  17.  —  dolore:    anger  was  no  doubt  now 
increased  by  news  of  the  surrender  at  Bedriacum.  —  modo  .  .  . 
nunc:    the  same  variation  3,  85;    cf.  2,  74  modo  .  .  .  aliquando. 

—  aversam  .  .  .  partem:   Intr.  20.  —  Rubrius  Gallus:   general  of 
Nero  against  Galba,  to  whom  he  deserted  (Dio  63,  27);   for  his 
leanings  towards  Vespasian  cf.  below  99.     In  70  he  was  rewarded 
by  the  governorship  of  Moesia  (Joseph.  B.  I.  7,  4,  3).  —  conceden- 
tibus:  for  the  abl.  abs.  loosely  appended  cf.  Intr.  7;  here  it  is  prac- 
tically an  unrelated  fact.  —  Flavius  Sabinus:   cf.  36  fin. 

62-73.  Vitellius,  still  in  Gaul,  succeeds  Otho.  His  first  months 
are  a  melange  of  lavish  feasts,  executions,  pardons,  appointments, 
a  disgraceful  progress  into  and  through  Italy,  a  revolting  visit  to 
the  field  of  Bedriacum. 

62.  posito:   cf.  on  38  posituri  bellum.  —  ubique:  Tac.  evidently 
thought  it  unnecessary  to  mention  the  surrender  of  Placentia  by 
Spurinna,  which  must  have  directly  followed  that  of  Bedriacum. 

—  ab   urbe:     cf.    1,    88.  —  Mutina  —  M6dena,    17   m.p.   east   of 
Regium,  on  the  Aemilia,  25    m.p.  from  Bononia  (Bologna).  — 
vultum  habitumque:    cf.  1,  14  fin.  vultu  habituque.  —  in  deterius: 
often  equivalent  to  a  result  clause,  a  usage  beginning  with  Sail,  and 
Livy;  cf.  3,  13  omnia  de  Vitellio  in  deterius;    4,  68  cuncta  in  deterius 
audita.  —  conviciis  .  .  .  ac  probris:    the  same  phrase  1,  47.  — 


214  NOTES 

utrimque:  i.e.  they  have  something  to  fear  from  both  sides.  — • 
nemo,  etc.:  for  this  amplification  after  the  verb  cf.  7  arma  .  .  . 
distulere,  V espasianus  Mucianusque  nuper,  ceteri  olim  mixtis  con- 
siliis.  —  tutior:  sc.  unus  quisque,  to  be  supplied,  as  often,  from 
nemo;  cf.  on  1,  1  dicendus.  —  ordo:  the  ordo  decurionum,  or  mu- 
nicipal senate;  they  were  sometimes  even  called  senatores.  The 
usual  number  was  100,  and  the  list  was  revised  every  five  years 
by  the  quinquennales,  or  local  censors;  cf.  Pauly-W.  IV,  s.v. 
decurio.  —  intempestivo :  the  senators  would  gladly  have  posed  as 
a  mere  company  of  friends,  who  had  attended  the  emperor.  Any 
official  act  of  theirs  as  patres  conscripti  would  compromise  them 
either  with  the  unruly  Othonian  soldiers  or  with  the  Vitellians. 

53.  P.  Licinius  Caecina:    lately  admitted  to  the  senate,  prob- 
ably by  Galba;    see  below.      He  reached  the  praetorship  later; 
cf.  Plin.    N.  H.  20,  199.  —  T.  Clodius  Eprius  Marcellus:  a  self- 
made  man,  eminent  as  an  orator,  but  notorious  as  an  informer. 
For  accusing  Paetus  Thrasea  and  Helvidius  Priscus  he  received 
from  Nero  5,000,000  sesterces.     He  was  praetor  for  one  day  under 
Claudius   (48),  governor  of  Lycia,  twice   cos.  suff.    (ca.  60  and 
74),  procos.  Asiae  (70-73);  a  friend  of  Vespasian,  but  for  conspir- 
ing against  him  he  was  forced  to  commit  suicide,   79.     Cf.  Dial. 
5,  8;    Ann.  12,  4  fin.;     13,  33  fin.;    16,  22  fin.,  26   ff.,    33:    Hist. 
4,  6  ff.,  43;   Dio  66,  16  fin.;   OIL.  X,  3853  (from  Capua,  his  birth- 
place).—  nee  =  not  .  .  .  either,  like  ne  .  .  .  quidem.  —  exposition 
ad:  the  poetic  and  silver  Latin  sense  of  exponere,  for  class,  obicere; 
cf.  on  30  expositos;   Verg.    Aen.    10,  693  f.  obvia  ventorum  furiis 
expostaquc  ponto;   for  the  use  of  ad  cf.  Cic.    Ep.  6,  4,  3  ad  omnis 
casus  .  .  .  obiecti  sumus.  —  claresceret:    cf.  Intr.  17.  —  Bononia 

=  Bologna,  on  the  Via  Aemilia,  S.E.  of  Mutina.  —  consiliaturi : 
the  rare  but  class,  consiliari  occurs  chiefly  in  ptcpp.  —  medio 
temporis:  cf.  on  1,  62  medio  diei.  —  sperabantur,  etc.:  for  the 
class,  plures  nuntios  sperabant;  cf.  45  sperabatur;  74  legiones 
secuturae  sperabantur.  —  recentissimum  quemque  =  every  new 
arrival.  —  relictum:  probably  on  the  evening  of  the  15th.  —  sola 
.  .  .  cura:  abl.  manner.  —  blandimentis :  cf.  Ann.  15,  64  blandi- 
mentis  vitae  evictam. 

54.  L.  Vitellius:    cf.  1,  88  for  his  departure  from  Rome  with 
Otho.  —  cum  .  .  .  perculit:  cf.  on  1,  29  cum  adfertur.  —  atroci: 


BOOK  II  215 

as  reviving  their  fears  and  uncertainties.  —  quartae  decumae:  cf. 
32  fin.  —  a  Brixello:  note  the  attributive  position;  cf.  on.  15 
iuzta.  —  diplomata:  a  folded  sheet  of  papyrus,  or  parchment 
(esp.  in  later  times),  bearing  the  emperor's  signature  and  seal, 
was  called  diploma;  it  entitled  the  bearer  for  a  certain  time  to 
all  the  facilities  afforded  by  the  post  (cursus  publicus).  As  a  rule 
such  transportation  was  furnished  only  to  officials.  Cf.  65  eoque 
diplomatibus  nullum  principem  praescripsisset;  Plin.  Ep.  10, 
45  f .,  etc.  —  neglegebantur  =  were  no  longer  honored.  —  paucos 
post  dies:  in  reality  some  time  must  have  elapsed  before  Vitel- 
lius  could  hear  of  the  incident,  and  his  order  reach  Rome.  It  has 
been  plausibly  conjectured  that  what  Tac.  wrote  was  iniussu 
Vitellii  (Spengel).  —  poenas  luit:  he  no  doubt  had  some  deeper 
motive  than  the  desire  to  travel  rapidly  at  state  expense.  —  pub- 
lic! consilii:  contrast  with  52  fin.  nemo  privatim  expedite  consilio. 
—  facie  =  specie;  cf.  1,  13  specie  legationis;  30  specie  liberalita- 
tis.  —  discessum:  sc.  foret  (  =  esset)  from  forent.  —  in  commune: 
cf.  on  1,  25  fin.  —  epistulae  =  litterae;  cf.  on  1,  67  epistulis. 

55.  Ceriales  ludi:  the  Cerialia  began  on  the  12th  and  culmi- 
nated on  the  19th  with  ludi  circenses;  cf.  Ann.  15,  53  circensium 
ludorum  die,  qui  Cereri  celebratur;  ib.  74;  Ovid,  Fast.  4,  679  f.  It 
was  on  this  final  day  of  the  feast  that  the  news  reached  Rome.  — 
cessisse:  may  be  for  the  cpd.  concessisse,  —  a  freq.  euphemism;  cf. 
Intr.  17;  Ann.  4,  38  quandoque  concessero;  13,  30  fin.  egrcgiafama 
concessit;  euphemism  was,  of  course,  necessary  at  the  festival. 
Or  the  verb  may  be  used  in  the  sense  in  which  Tac.  puts  it  into 
the  mouth  of  Vitellius,  when  he  proposed  to  abdicate,  3,  68  cedere 
se  pads  et  rei  publicae  causa.  —  Flavius  Sabinus:  the  brother  of 
Vespasian;  cf.  on  1,  46.  —  quod  .  .  .  militum:  cf.  on  44  militum 
quod  .  .  .  fuerit.  —  in  theatrum:  probably  inexact  for  in  circum, 
since  no  other  entertainments  were  given  while  the  sports  of  the 
circus  were  in  progress.  The  news  could  not  have  reached  Rome 
on  the  18th  (when  there  probably  were  plays  in  the  theaters)  unless 
a  courier  was  dispatched  on  the  day  of  the  surrender  (15th).  — 
Galbae  imagines,  etc.:  they  felt  that  the  death  of  Galba  had  now 
been  avenged.  —  circum  templa  =  from  one  temple  to  another.  — 
congestis:  cf.  Intr.  7.  —  lacum  Curtii:  cf.  on  1,  41.  —  cuncta:  i.e. 
the  titles  and  powers.  The  latter  consisted  of  (a)  the  imperium 


216  NOTES 

proconsular;  (6)  the  tribunicia  potestas,  requiring  confirmation  by 
the  popular  assembly — given  in  this  case  on  30th  Apr.,  as  is  shown 
by  the  Arval  inscr.,  CIL.  VI,  2051,  81:  (c)  various  special  powers 
and  privileges,  formerly  given  piecemeal,  but  now  in  the  lump.  — 
composite  =  constitute,,  decreta.  —  fungeretur:  as  though  their  gau- 
dium  was  an  officium  or  munus.  —  epistulae:  cf.  on  54  fin.  —  scrip- 
sisset:  quoted  reason;  Caecina  conformed  to  etiquette  in  not  com- 
municating with  the  consuls;  cf .  4,  4,  where  Mucianus  gave  offense 
by  writing  to  the  senate. 

56.  ceterum  Italia:  in  contrast  with  the  tranquillity  at  Rome; 
peace  did  not  come  even  posito  ubique  bello;  cf .  52  init.  —  vi  et 
stupris:  the  general  term  and  the  particular  linked  by  hendiadys. 

—  fas  nefasque:    in  formulas  composed  of  opposites  one  term 
may  totally  eclipse  the  other;    cf.  3,  51  tantam  .  .  .  adversus  fas 
nefasque  inreverentiam  fuisse.  —  venales:    i.e.  offering  their  serv- 
ices as  assassins.  —  ipsi:  in  contrast  with  those  who  masqueraded 
as  soldiers  (specie  militum).  —  refertos  agros  =  well-stocked  estates. 

—  obnoxiis  =  under  obligations;    cf.  1,  1  obnoxios.  —  infamis:    cf. 
1,  66,  —  his  avarice  while  in  Gaul. 

67.  integrum:  i.e.  not  yet  decided;  cf.  Ann.  15,  18  integro 
adhuc  bello;  Sail.  lug.  73,  1  tamquam  ad  integrum  bellum.  —  Ger- 
manic! exercitus:  except  for  V  Alaudae  and  XXI  Rapax,  Valens 
and  Caecina  had  brought  from  the  Rhine  legions  only  detach- 
ments, vexilla,  viz.  of  I  Germanica,  IV  Macedonica,  XV  Primi- 
genia,  XVI  Gallica,  XXII  Primigenia.  Vitellius  appears  to  have 
brought  with  him  the  remainder  of  XXII,  and  further  detach- 
ments from  I,  IV,  XV  and  XVI.  Cf.  1,  61;  2,  89,  100  (XXII  in 
Italy).  —  trahebat:  i.e.  from  their  various  stations,  to  meet,  or 
overtake  him  on  his  way  from  Treves  (Trier)  to  Lyons;  cf.  59.  — 
festinatis:  for  the  trans,  use  cf.  on  1,  76  fin.  pleraque  .  .  .  fes- 
tinavit.  —  nomina  —  nominal  strength;  cf.  4,  14  inania  legionum 
nomina;  contrast  2,  69  numeros  =  actual  strength.  —  Hordeonius 
Flaccus:  cf.  on  1,  9.  —  delecta,  etc.:  detachments  from  the  three 
legions  then  in  Britain,  viz.  II  Augusta,  IX  Hispana,  XX  Valeria 
Victrix;  cf.  3,  22  cum  vexillis  nonae  secundaeque  et  vicensimae 
Britannicarum  legionum;  cf.  1,  9.  —  Asiaticus:  his  vicious  career 
is  given  by  Suet.  Vit.  12;  cf.  below,  95,  where  he  is  said  to  have 
rivaled  the  worst  of  Nero's  freedmen;  cf.  Plut.  Galba  20.  He 


BOOK  II  217 

was  crucified  by  Mucianus,  4,  11  fin.  —  palam,  etc.:  cf.  Intr.  13. — 
anulis:  cf.  on  1,  13  anulis.  —  mancipium:  out  of  contempt  the 
freedman  is  called  a  slave;  so  servorum  manus  in  1,  7. 

68.  Mauretania:  cf.  on  1,  11  Mauretaniae.  —  procuratore:  i.e. 
procuratore  pro  legato,  governing  the  province;  cf.  on  1,  2  fin. 
procurationes.  —  Lucceius  Albinus:  he  had  been  procurator  of 
Judaea,  62-65;  cf.  Joseph.  B.I.  2,  14,  1;  Ant.  20,  9,  1  ff. — Cae- 
sariensis:  Algeria,  minus  the  greater  part  of  Constantino.  — 
Tingitana:  Morocco.  —  baud  spernendis  viribus:  abl.  qual.  as 
predicate;  cf.  81  Sohaemus  hand  spernendis  viribus;  11  hand  sper- 
nenda  manus.  —  agebat  =  erat  or  versabatur;  cf .  3,  42  hand  procul 
inde  agebat;  3,  57  turn  forte  Minturnis  agens.  —  decem  novem: 
rare  form  of  the  numeral,  but  found  even  in  Caesar,  B.  G.  1,  8,  1. 
—  latrocinia,  etc.:  cf.  on  1,  46  latrocinia  et  raptus. —  manus:  in 
app.  with  numerus  only.  —  Hispaniae:  it  had  at  first  declared 
for  Otho,  but  soon  went  over,  to  the  side  of  Vitellius;  cf.  1,  76.  — 
Cluvius  Rufus:  cf.  on  1,  8;  as  the  senatorial  province  of  Baetica 
had  no  troops  to  protect  itself  against  the  threatened  invasion,  the 
military  responsibility  fell  on  Cluvius,  as  imperial  legatus  of  Tar- 
raconensis.  —  decumam:  i.e.  Geminam;  he  had  also  VI  Vic- 
trix;  cf .  on  1,8  Hispaniae.  —  propinquare:  cf.  Intr.  17.  —  uttrans- 
missurus:  the  feigned  intention;  cf.  80  ut  legatum  salutaturi.  — 
arduum:  cf.  on  1,  85  arduus.  —  spargebatur:  on  the  poetic  word 
cf.  Intr.  16.  —  luba:  .the  name  of  numerous  princes  of  Numidia. 
The  last  Juba,  a  descendant  of  Massinissa,  had  been  made  king 
of  Mauretania,  under  a  Roman  protectorate  by  Augustus.  Caligula 
had  put  Juba's  son  Ptolemy  to  death  in  40,  and  Claudius  estab- 
lished the  provincial  government;  cf.  on  1,  11  Mauretaniae. 

59.  Asinius  Pollio:  it  is  not  known  how  he  was  related  to  the 
celebrated  Pollio.  As  praefectus  alae  he  could  not  have  been 
higher  in  rank  than  an  eques.  Scipio  and  Festus  are  also  mere 
names  to  us.  —  adpulsu  litoris:  for  the  free  gen.  cf.  Livy  27,  30, 
7  ut  .  .  .  portibus  et  litorum  adpulsu  arceret;  Cic.  Verr.  5,  85  adi- 
tum  litoris  .  .  .  ademerunt.  Tac.  even  has  aditus  with  gen.  for 
access  to  a  person,  e.g.  Ann.  16,  1  principis  aditum  emercatus;  ib. 
10  aditu  Neronis  prohibebatur.  In  1,  87  Galliarum  aditus,  the 
verbal  force  is  lost,  as  often  in  Cic.  aditus  templi,  etc.  Cf.  72 
errore  veri.  —  quae  fierent:  i.e.  in  Mauretania.  —  brevi  audito: 


218  NOTES 

cf.  Agr.  40  exceptusque  brevi  osculo;  Ann.  14,  12  brevi  adsensu.  — 
inpar,  etc.:  cf.  3,  36  praeterita  instantia  futura  pari  oblivione 
dimiserat.  —  Arar  =  Sa6ne  (a  corruption  of  the  later  name  Sau- 
conna).  This  journey  by  water  was  merely  a  stretch  of  ca.  75 
m.p.  between  Cabillonum  (Chalon-sur-Sa6ne)  and  Lyons.  — 
paratu  =  apparatu;  cf.  81  fin.  —  egestate:  Suet.  Vit.  7  gives  the 
details  of  his  egestas  at  the  time  he  left  Rome  for  his  province.  — 
lunius  Blaesus:  cf.  on  1,  59.  —  rector  =  legatus  pro  praetore;  cf. 
on  ib.  rector.  —  par  opibus  =  correspondingly  wealthy.  —  minis- 
teria:  referring  to  the  multitude  of  servants,  with  minutely  divided 
duties,  thought  essential  by  Blaesus  to  imperial  dignity.  Vitellius 
had  already  appointed  his  ministers,  or  secretaries,  from  among 
the  knights,  1,  58.  —  quamvis:  with  subjv.,  although  of  a  fact; 
as  often  in  silver  Latin;  cf.  79,  85;  Dial.  2.  —  curuli:  sc.  sellae; 
cf.  Ann.  1,  75  ne  praetor  em  curuli  depelleret.  —  infanti:  in  the 
later  Roman  law  a  child  was  infans  up  to  the  age  of  seven,  and 
this  was  probably  only  the  confirmation  of  long-standing  usage. 
Suet.  Vit.  6  says  that  the  boy  was  almost  dumb  (prope  mutum 
et  elinguem),  but  it  is  inconceivable  that  Tac.  should  have  used 
infans  in  that  sense  here,  when  describing  a  review.  —  filio :  cf .  on 
1,  75  liberi;  he  had  just  been  brought  from  Rome.  —  Germani- 
cum:  he  had  previously  assumed  this  title  himself,  1,  62. — rebus 
adversis:  cf.  Intr.  13;  Tac.  looks  forward  to  the  fall  of  Vitellius, 
and  later  the  death  of  the  boy,  by  order  of  Mucianus,  4,  80;  cf. 
on  48  fin.  nimium  meminisset.  —  in  solacium  cessit:  not  to  the 
boy,  of  course,  nor  his  father;  but  in  the  general  judgment,  what 
was  at  first  styled  nimius  honos,  was  later  thought  to  offset,  in 
part  at  least,  the  misfortunes  which  followed.  For  solacium  = 
compensation,  satisfaction  cf.  1,  77  in  solacium;  2,  47  neque 
solaciis  opus  est.  —  cessit  =  came  to  be  regarded;  cf.  Ann.  14,  54 
fin.  hoc  quoque  in  tuam  gloriam  cedet;  Germ.  36  in  sapientiam  cessit. 
60.  turn:  Vitellius  is  at  Lyons  up  to  65.  —  alienatio:  practically 
=  odium,  and  hence  construed  with  in  and  ace.;  cf.  4,  49  alienato 
erga  Vespasianum  animo  fuisse.  — Illyricos  exercitus:  cf.  on  1,  9 
Illyrico;  the  legions  of  Illyricum  had  furnished  the  majority  of  the 
combatants  on  Otho's  side;  cf.  also  1,  76;  2, 11.  — cetera*  legiones: 
i.e.  I  Adiutrix  (cf.  1 1  cum  legione  prima),  and  the  legions  of  the 
East,  —  Syria,  Judaea,  Egypt.  —  contactu  «=  contagious  example. 


BOOK  II  219 

—  tristi  =  cruel.  —  squalidos:   the  reference  is,  of  course,  to  the 
usual  squalor  of  ancient  defendants,  or  suppliants  who  tried  thus  to 
excite  sympathy;    cf.  Quint.  6,  1,  30  producere  ipsos,  qui  pericli- 
tentur,  squalidos  atque  deformes.  —  ultro:    cf.  on   1,  7  ultra.  —  in- 
putabant:  sc.  sibi;  i.e.  they  actually  credited  themselves  with,  etc.; 
cf.  on  1,  71  imputavit,  where  in  similar  circumstances  MariusCelsus 
dared  to  plead  his  fides  as  a  defense.  —  spatium  .  .  .  itineris: 
cf.  40.  —  vehiculis:   cf.  41  fin.  —  et:  for  the  more  logical  adversa- 
tive, i.e.  in  spite  of  the  improbable  tale,  Vitellius  believed.  —  fidem 
=  their  (previous)  loyalty  to  Otho,  but  there  is  no  small  sarcasm 
in  the  juxtaposition  of  perjidia  and  fides.  —  absolvit:    as  though 
fides  were  the  crime  with  which  they  were  charged;   so  in  1,  59 
damnatos  fidei  crimine.  —  ignavia:    cf.  on  7  ignaviam.  —  Marius 
Celsus:  evidently  he  did  not  lower  himself  as  Paulinus  and  Procu- 
lus  did;    cf.  1,  71.  —  consulatus:    for  July  and  August,  1,  77. — 
fama:   abl.  cause,  i.e.  quia  fama  vulgabatur.  —  Cn.  Caecilius  Sim- 
plex: proconsul  of  Sardinia,  66-67  (OIL.  X,  7852);  cos.  suff.  Nov. 
and  Dec.,  69;   cf.  3,  68.  —  postea:   the  time  referred  to  is  that  of 
the  arrangements  made  in  71,  below.  —  Trachalus:  cf.  on  1,  90.  — 
Galeria  Fundana:  his  second  wife;  her  father  had  been  praetor;  cf. 
Suet.  Vit.  6;  cf.  also  below,  64. 

61.  pudendum  dictu:  cf.  Agr.  32pudetdictu  (parenth.  as  here); 
above,  41  mirum  dictu.  From  Tac.'s  aristocratic  standpoint  this 
fanatical  uprising  was  a  very  vulgar  affair.  —  Boii:  they  had  in- 
vaded Gaul  with  the  Helvetii,  but  when  the  latter  returned  to  their 
own  country,  the  Aedui  made  room  for  the  Boii  in  their  territory. 
Their  chief  town  was  Gorgobina;  cf.  Caes.  B.  G.,  1,  5,  4;  28,  5;  7, 
9,  6.  —  inserere  sese  fortunae  =  thrust  himself  into  the  foreground; 
fortuna  suggests  the  highest  prominence,  cf.  1  quantaecumque  for- 
tunae capax.  For  the  Tacitean  phraseology,  cf.  Dial.  10  nomen 
inserere  .  .  .  famae;  Ann.  6,  2  ignobilitatem  suam  magnis  nomini- 
bus  inserit.  —  numinum:  i.e.  of  divine  command  or  inspiration.  — 
adsertor:  this  technical  term  of  the  law  was  associated  with  cases 
where  the  status  of  persons  (whether  free  or  slave)  was  in  question; 
hence  Mariccus  is  represented  as  a  champion  of  Gallic  freedom. 

—  indiderat:  cf.  1,  51  hoc  enim  nomen  .  .  .  indiderant. — Aeduo- 
rum:  cf.  on  1,  51  Aedui.  —  trahebat  =  was  winning  over;  cf.  86 
Delmaticum  militem  traxere;  100  fin.  traxeritne  Caecinam.     Others 


220  NOTES 

translate  was  plundering,  a  sense  which  the  verb  has  only  where 
the  context  leaves  no  ambiguity,  as  e.g.  Ann.  3,  74  ne  Cirtensium 
pagi  impune  traherentur  (with  praedatio  immediately  preceding); 
so  the  cases  in  Sallust  show  trahere  in  company  with  ducere,  rapere, 
exscindere.  —  gravissima:  the  steadfast  loyalty  of  the  Aeduan  state 
is  contrasted  with  the  levitas  of  Mariccus'  supporters.  —  civitas: 
probably  not  limited  to  the  city  of  Augustodunum;  some  action 
must  have  been  taken  by  the  Aeduan  senate  in  the  name  of  the 
whole  tribe.  —  mox:  i.e.  at  Lyons. 

62.  ultra:  than  has  been  narrated  in  60-61.  —  defectores  = 
rebels  (not  the  rebels);  the  reader_naturally  refers  this  to  the  asso- 
ciates of  Mariccus,  but  it  is  evidently  meant  in  a  wider  sense,  in- 
cluding also  any  others  who  had  refused  at  first  to  acknowledge 
Vitellius.  He  of  course  denned  rebellion  from  his  own  personal 
standpoint,  claiming  that  he  had  been  proclaimed  emperor  before 
the  death  of  Galba;  cf.  1,  74  fin.  quod  tanto  ante  traditum  Vitellio 
imperium  ad  Othonem  vertissent.  — -  intestatis:  their  property  fell 
to  their  natural  heirs,  or  if  they  had  none,  to  thefiscus;  cf.  Ann.  2, 
48  bona  Aemiliae  Musae,  locupletis  intestatae,  petita  in  fiscum.  — 
prorsus:  cf.  on  5  prorsus.  —  temperaret:  for  temperasset;  cf.  on  5 
abesset.  —  timeres:  for  the  potential  cf.  on  1,  10  laudares;  cf.  Agr. 
22  fin.  ut  silentium  eius  non  timeres;  Hist.  3,  75  innocentiam  iusti- 
tiamque  eius  non  argueres.  In  this  indef.  2d  person  the  potential 
subjv.  may  stand  in  the  apodosis  of  a  condition,  as  in  the  result 
clause  (Agr.  I.e.).  —  epularum  .  .  .  libido:  Suet.  Vit.  13  gives  the 
details  ad  nauseam.  —  irritamenta,  etc.:  cf.  1,  88  luxuriosos  ap- 
paratus conviviorum  et  irritamenta  libidinum.  —  vastabantur:  figu- 
rative.—  August!  .  .  .  Caesaris:  both  had  been  conferred  already 
by  the  senate;  cf,  55;  also  1,  62.  The  title  of  Augustus  was  as- 
sumed on  his  arrival  at  Rome,  below,  90  fin.;  later  that  of  Caesar 
also,  3,58.  — differret:  characteristic  clause;  cf.  Cic.  pro  Quinct.  89 
edictum,  quod  .  .  .  vetaret;  others  make  it  equivalent  to  quo  .  . 
se  differre  dicebat.  —  Italia:  cf.  Intr.  18;  the  bare  abl.  from  which 
is  freely  used  by  Tac.  of  country  names ;  but  was  more  orthodox 
with  certain  words,  e.g.  abire,  profugere,  abscedere,  excedere;  cf. 
Suet.  Vit.  14  urbe  Italiaque  mathematici  excederent;  Hist.  2,  65  fin. 
profugerat  Britannia;  Nipperdey  on  Ann.  2,  69;  pellere  Italia  is 
freq.  in  Tac.,  e.g.  Ann.  2,  32  de  mathematicis  .  .  .  Italia  pellendis 


BOOK  II  221 

senatus  consulta.  —  mathematici:  cf.  on  1,  22  mathematicis  and 
ib.  vetabitur;  Suet.  I.e.  —  ludo:  sc.  gladiatorio,  the  necessary  prep- 
aration for  the  arena.  —  id  .  .  .  perpulerant:  pellere  here  has  the 
construction  of  cogere,  instead  of  ad  id;  cf .  4,  42  hoc  certe  Nero  non 
coegit.  —  aemulabantur :  here  with  an  inf.,  on  the  analogy  (in 
silver  prose)  of  certare;  only  one  other  case  is  known,  Vulg.  1  Cor. 
14,  39  aemulamini  prophetare. 

63.  fratris:  i.e.  L.  Vitellius;  cf.  on  1,  88.  —  rettulimus :  viz.  1, 
88.  —  M.  Plancius  Varus:   procos.  of  Bithynia  in  70  or  71;  in  the 
latter  year  cos.  suff.;    procos.  of  Asia  78-79;   our  information  is 
largely  based  upon  coins.  —  ex  .  .  .  amicis:    cf.  1,  31  e  Galbae 
amicis;  1,  24  e  proximis  Tigellini.  —  Flavius  Sabinus:  cf.  on  1,  46. 
—  praefectum  urbis:    the  city  prefect  had  jurisdiction  within  a 
radius  of  100  miles,  at  first  over  cases  affecting  peace  and  order; 
but  his  powers  were  gradually  enlarged.     Cf.  on  1,  14  praefecto 
urbis;    Dig.  1,  12,  1,  4.  —  tanquam:    cf.  on  1,  48  tanquam  .  .  . 
furatus.  —  cohortem:     cf.    1,   80   septumam   decumam   cohortem  e 
colonia  Ostiensi,  etc.  —  nee:    the  negative  belongs  with  the  abl. 
abs.  —  veniam:    for  Dolabella.  —  scelus:    i.e.  the  betrayal  of  his 
friend.     It  has  been  understood  of  Vitellius'  crime,  the  death  of 
Dolabella;   but  as  Tac.  mentions  various  delays,  it  is  more  likely 
that  Varus'  repentance  came  earlier.  —  Triaria:   cf.  64;   she  ap- 
pears again  in  an  unfavorable  light,  3,  77.—  terruit:  with  the 
constr.  of  deterruit;  cf.  1,  40  fin.  terruere  quo  minus;  Intr.  17.  — 
incessisset  =  had  been  excited;  incedere  often  =  come  up,  crop  out, 
supervene,  etc.;  cf.  Ann.  1,  55  spes  incesserat;  3,  36  incedebat  .  .  . 
licentia;  ib.  71  incessit  dein  religio;  6,  21  suspicio  incesserat;    Hist. 
3,  27  fin.  incesserat  cunctatio.     For  the  subjv.  of  repeated  action  cf. 
on  1,  10  vacaret. 

64.  Petronia:   the  divorced  first  wife  of  Vitellius.     Her  father, 
P.  Petronius,  had  been  very  prominent ;  was  proconsul  of  Asia  under 
Tiberius,  made  legatus  of  Syria  by  Caligula,  and  an  intimate  of 
Claudius  (Ann.  3,  49).     For  her  brother  cf.  1,  6.     Her  social  posi- 
tion would  add  to  the  pretensions  of  Dolabella,  if  he  chose  to  con- 
spire against  Vitellius.  —  eius:  to  avoid  the  ambiguity  of  suam; 
cf.  on  9  eum.  —  epistulas:  cf.  on  1,  67  epistulis.  — Flaminiae:  cf. 
on  1,  86  fin.— devertere :  i.e.  leaving  the  Flaminia  at  Narnia,  and 
going  up  the  valley  of  the  Nar  (N.E.).    The  Flaminia  crossed  the 


222  NOTES 

Nar  by  a  handsome  bridge  (now  a  picturesque  ruin)  and  proceeded 
northwards  through  Umbria.  —  Interamna  :  in  southern  Umbria, 
now  Terni,  best  known  for  the  neighboring  cascades.  The  form 
Interamnium  also  occurs,  but  rarely,  —  so  here  in  the  Medici  Ms., 
but  not  at  3,  61,  63,  the  only  other  places  where  it  is  mentioned  in 
Tac.  It  was  the  patria  of  the  emperor  Tacitus  (275-276),  and  has 
without  reason  been  accounted  the  birthplace  of  the  historian 
also.  —  e  proximo  =  close  at  hand.  —  Galeria:  cf.  60  fin.  —  Sex- 
tilia:  cf.  89  fin.;  her  death  in  December  of  this  year,  3,  67.  Noth- 
ing is  known  in  regard  to  her  family,  beyond  the  vague  statement 
of  Suet,  that  she  was  not  ignobilis  (Vit.  3).  —  antiqui  moris:  cf.  1, 
14  fin.  moris  antiqui  (of  Piso).  —  quin  etiam:  for  the  order  cf.  on 
17  fin.  quin  etiam.  —  epistulas:  cf.  on  epistulas  above.  —  Germani- 
cum:  cf.  1,  62.  —  evicta:  cf.  Ann.  1,  57  evicta  (or  victa)  inlacrimas; 
11,  37  ad  miserationem  evicta  erat.  —  tantum  adversa:  cf.  3,  67 
nihil  principatu  fili  adsecuta  nisi  luctum  et  bonam  famam. 

65.  Cluvius  Rufus:  cf.  58;  on  1,  8;  on  101  scriptores.  —  ad- 
sequitur:  cf.  1,  39  adsecutus  erat. — Hilarus:  as  Caesaris  libertus 
shows,  he  must  have  been  a  freedman  of  Nero,  or  Galba,  or  Otho, 
passing  to  Vitellius  with  the  rest  of  the  imperial  domus  in  succes- 
sion to  Otho  (cf.  suum,  below).  Probably  his  duties  in  Spain  were 
in  connection  with  the  financial  administration,  or  the  secret  ser- 
vice. —  tanquam:  cf.  on  1,  8  tanquam  .  .  .  fovissent.  —  Vitellii  et 
Othonis:  Cluvius  at  first  sided  with  Otho,  but  soon  went  over  to 
Vitellius,  and  the  province  with  him;  cf .  1,  76.  —  potentiam:  he  was 
not  content  with  his  legitimate  potestas;  cf.  on  1,  1  potentiam.  — 
diplomatibus:  cf.  on  54  diplomata.  Cluvius  found  himself  in  an 
awkward  position,  not  daring  as  yet  to  prefix  the  name  of  either 
of  the  rivals,  while  the  omission  of  an  emperor's  name  at  the  head 
of  the  document  was  also  open  to  a  malicious  interpretation.  — 
contumeliosa  .  .  .  popularia:  predicate  use  of  the  adjj.  —  ultro: 
cf.  on  1,  7  ultro.  —  L.  Arruntius:  cos.  6  A.D.;  governed  Hispania 
Tarraconensis,  25-34,  in  absentia,  by  his  legati;  cf.  Ann.  1,  13;  6, 
27;  Suet.  Tib.  63.  —  ob  metum:  cf.  Suet.  I.e.  non  ausus  a  se 
dimittere,  etc.  —  Trebellius  Maximus:  cf.  on  1, 60.  —  Britannia:  for 
the  abl.  cf.  on  62  Italia.  —  Vettius  Bolanus:  legatus  of  a  legion  in 
Armenia  with  Corbulo  in  62;  cos.  suff.  before  69  (else  he  could  not 
have  been  legatus  of  Britain);  governed  Britain  69-71;  later  pro- 


BOOK  II  223 

consul  of  Asia;  cf.  Ann.  15,  3;  Agr.  8,  16;  Hist.  2,  97;  Statius, 
SUv.  5,  2,  54  ff.  —  e  praesentibus :  cf.  1,  13  fin.  inter  praesentes 
splendidissimus  (of  Otho  at  the  court  of  Galba). 

66.  quartadecumanorum:    cf.  on   11   quartadecumani. — vexil- 
lariis:   for  their  part  in  the  battle  cf.  43.  —  a  Nerone,  etc.:   cf.  27 
quas  bello  Neronis,  etc. — tendere:  cf.  1, 31  tendentes.  —  discordiam : 
cp.  1,  59  turn  discordia  temporum  a  legione  digressae;   1,  64  mox  rixa 
inter    Batavos    et   legionarios;     2,    27.  —  Augusta   Taurinorum  = 
Turin;  in  republican  times  Taurasia.  —  hospitem:  i.e.  the  man  in 
whose  house  the  soldier  was  quartered;    cf.  3,  2  tantum  hospitibus 
metuendos.  —  arsisset  =  exarsisset;   Intr.  17.  —  quos:  sc.  Batavos. 
—  Grais  Alpibus:  the  Alpis  Graia,  Little  St.  Bernard,  was  reached 
from  Augusta  Taurinorum  by  way  of  Augusta  Praetoria  (Aosta). 
For  the  other  passes  cf.  on  1,  61.  —  eo  flexu  itineris,  etc.:  from  the 
Little  St.  Bernard  there  were  two  routes  to  Lyons,  diverging  at 
Montmelian,  in  the  upper  Isere  valley:   (1)  via  Chambery  (Lemin- 
cum)  and  Les  Echelles  (Labisco),  down  to  the  plains  of  the  Rhone 
via  Aoste  (Augustum)  to  Vienne,  and  so  to  Lyons;    (2)  down  the 
Isere  valley,  via  Grenoble  (Cularo)  and  Moirans  (Morginnum),  to 
Vienne  and  Lyons.     Cf.  map  in  CIL.  XII.     The  former  route  was 
probably  taken  as  far  as  Aoste,  and  thence  a  less  frequented  road 
down  the  Rhone  to  Lyons.     Others  understand  that  the  seditiosi 
(below)  wished  to  take  route  (2)  and  that  the  legion  actually 
marched  by  way  of  ChambeYy,  the  Lac  de  Bourget,  and  the  Mont 
duChat.  —  Viennam:  cf.  on  1,65;  2,29.  —  timebantur:  explained 
by  the  conduct  of  Valens,  1,  66.  —  signa,  etc.:  the  scene  of  this  is 
much  more  reasonably  placed  in  the  plains  of  the  Rhone,  say  at 
Aoste,  than  while  they  were  still  among  the  high  Alps,  at  Mont- 
melian.—  ferebant:    for  quisque  with  plural  cf.  on  1,  35  nimii 
verbis. 

67.  e  .  .  .  cohortibus:     cf.   on    1,   64   ex    Vitellio.  —  honestae 
missionis:  i.e.  an  anticipation  of  the  honorable  discharge,  to  which 
they  would  otherwise  be  entitled  only  after  sixteen  years  of  serv- 
ice, —  with  a  bonus  of  20,000  sesterces;    cf.  Dio  55,  23.  —  clas- 
sicorum  legio:   cf.  on  1,  6  e  classe.  —  undecuma:  its  station  was  in 
Dalmatia;   cf.  on  1,  9  Illyrico;  2,  11;   3,  50.  —  septima:  i.e.  Gal- 
biana,  from  Pannonia,  as  was  the  XHIth;    cf.  11  and  86.  —  spec- 
taculum:    cf.  70.  —  parabant:    cf.  on  30  inridebant.  —  ad  curas: 


224  NOTES 

cf.  4,  2  ad  euros  intentus;   4,  18  in  Gallias  .  .  .  intentus;   but  the 
regular  constr.  is  the  dat.;  e.g.  1,  29,  79;  2,  41. 

68.  et  .  .  .  quidem:    marking  the  contrast  between  his  dis- 
creet measures  as  regards  the  defeated,  and  the  lack  of  discipline 
on  the  side  of  the  victors.     As  often,  Tac.  omits  an  adversative 
with  the  second  member;    cf.  36  init.;    1,  16  fin.;    1,  63  init. — 
modeste:  i.e.  without  harsh  treatment.  —  ludicro  initio:  abl.  abs.; 
it  began  in  sport,— a  certamen  luctandi  (cf.  below).  —  ni  =  but  for 
the  fact  that,  etc.     Tac.  is  fond  of  more  or  less  elliptical  conditions 
with  nisi  or  ni.     Beginning  in  sport,  the  whole  thing  would  have 
been  undeserving  of  mention,  but  for  the  fact,  etc.  —  Ticinum:  cf. 
on  17.  —  Verginius:   cf .  51  and  on  1,  8.  —  vel  .  .  .  aut:   cf.  on  1 
vel.  —  tempestivis  =  beginning  betimes;  cf.  Cic.  Cato  M .  46  tempes- 
tivis  quoque  conviviis  detector;    Arch.  13,  etc.;    Ann.  11,  37  tempes- 
tivis epulis  delenitus.  —  perinde:    cf.  on   1,  30  fin.   perinde  .  .  . 
quam.  —  intentus  .  .  .  licenter:    cf.  Intr.  13;    intentus  is  the  op- 
posite of  remissus.  —  pervigiliis  ac  bacchanalibus :   both  terms  are 
borrowed  from  religious  enthusiasm,  orgies,  etc.  —  prociderat:  for 
the  pluperf.  with  postquam,  cf.  1,  26  postquam  vulgatum  erat.  —  di- 
ductis:  i.e.  in  favor  of  the  one  or  the  other.  —  quartam  decumam: 
although  ordered  to  Britain  (cf.  66),  this  legion  was  thought  ca- 
pable of  defying  its  orders.  —  coactores:    only  here  for  qui  agmen 
cogebant.  —  agniti:     cf.    Intr.    11. —  quanquam:     with    adj.    for 
quamvis;  cf.  on  1,  83  quanquam.  —  ad:  cf.  on  8  fin.  ad  celebritatem 
nominis.  —  ducis  sui:    as  legatus  of  Upper    Germany.  —  omnis 
seditio:    cf.  49,  51.  —  fastiditi:    he  had  declined  to  be  saluted  as 
imperator  by  them;  cf.  on  1,  8  Verginius. 

69.  legatione:  for  the  sending  of  this  embassy  cf.  55  fin.  —  ibi: 
i.e.  at  Ticinum.  —  ultro:   cf.  on  1,  7  ultra.  —  pietatem:  their  devo- 
tion to  him,  in  demanding  vengeance  for  attempted  (?)  assassina- 
tion.—  frementibus:  cf.  Intr.  7.  —  impunitatis:    Vitellius  makes 
no  attempt  to  punish  the  troops  for  the  disturbances  of  chap.  68.  — 
Batavorum:    cf.  66.  —  in  Germaniam:    whereas  their  legion  had 
been  sent  back  to  Britain,  ib. ;    in  Germany  (Mainz)  they  were 
prominent  in  the  great  uprising  of  69-70;  cf.  4,  15,  etc.  —  interne, 
etc.:  the  rebellion  led  by  the  Batavian  Civilis  involved  revolted  pro- 
vincials and  mutinous  legions,  as  well  as  free  Germans;   cf.  4,  22, 
mixta  belli  civilis  externique  facie;    1,  2  plura  [bella]  externa  ac 


BOOK  II  225 

plerumque  permixta.  —  bello:  for  the  dat.  cf.  on  1  imperio.  —  defec- 
tione:  from  Galba's  standpoint.  —  inania  belli:  cf.  Agr.  6  inania 
honoris;  above,  2  laeva  marts.  The  Gallic  militia  is  contrasted  with 
legionaries  and  regular  auxiliaries.  —  numeros  =  actual  strength; 
cf.  on  57  nomina.  —  vetitis:  Intr.  7,  12.  —  inter  paucos:  cf.  on  1, 1 
inter  infensos.  —  virtute,  etc. :  cf .  Ennius,  moribus  antiquis  res  stat 
Romana  virisque  (ap.  Cic.  Rep.  5,  1);  Livy  4,  40,  9  pro  virtute  tua 
.  .  .  qua  una  ...  res  publica  stetit.  Two  distinct  statements  are 
condensed  into  one,  —  apud  quos  potius  virtute  quam  pecunia  res 
Romana  stetit,  and  apud  quos  res  Romana  melius  stetit. 

70.  flexit:  instead  of  taking  the  Via  Aemilia  at  Placentia,  Vitel- 
lius  continued  down  the  left  bank  of  the  Po  by  the  Via  Postumia 
to  Cremona.  —  munere:  for  the  preparations  for  this  spectaculum 
gladiatorum  cf.  67  fin.  —  quadragensimum :  i.e.  about  the  23d  May. 
—  pugnae:  for  the  gen.  cf.  on  1,  26  postero  (iduum  die).  —  lacera 
corpora:  on  the  style  of  this  description  cf .  Intr.  23.  —  frugibus  = 
crops.  —  inhumana  =  revolting,  of  that  which  shocks  the  feelings; 
so  of  the  indifference  of  the  mob  to  bloodshed,  etc.,  at  the  capture 
of  Rome  by  the  Vitellians,  3,  83  (inhumana  securitas).  —  pars  viae: 
sc.  Postumiae,  —  from  Cremona  to  the  battlefield.  —  rosa:  col- 
lective, as  usual;  the  plur.  is  not  found  in  classical  prose.  —  ex- 
tructis:  cf.  Intr.  7.  —  regium,  etc.:  such  Oriental  customs  had 
been  introduced  by  Caligula;  cf.  Suet.  Col.  13.  —  laeta,  etc.:  cf.  3, 
6  laeta  ad  praesens  male  parta  mox  in  perniciem  vertere.  —  perniciem : 
in  October  of  this  same  year  Cremona  was  destroyed  by  the  troops 
of  Vespasian;  cf.  3,  32  f.  For  the  anticipation  of  misfortune  cf. 
on  48  fin.  nimium  meminisset;  and  below,  tarn  propinquae  sortis  ig- 
narus.  —  locos  =  positions.  —  nine  inrupisse:  cf.  the  similar  passage 
in  Ann.  1,  61  fin.  where  the  survivors  of  Varus'  army  point  out  to 
Germanicus  the  features  of  the  disaster,  —  hie  cecidisse  legatos,  illic 
raptas  aquilas,  etc.  —  falsa  vera:  for  the  adversative  asyndeton  cf. 
on  26  fugientes  occursantes.  —  clamore  et  gaudio:  cf.  on  1,  27  fin. 
clamore  et  gaudiis.  —  aggerem:  apparently  the  weapons  had  all 
been  collected  in  one  pile,  as  a  kind  of  trophy;  cf.  Ann.  2,  18 
struxitque  aggerem  et  in  modum  tropaeorum  arma  .  .  .  imposuit; 
ib.  22  congeriem  armorum  struxit.  —  intueri  mirari:  the  asyndeton 
has  a  cumulative  effect,  as  in  1,  2  fin.  agerent  verterent.  —  subiret: 
in  a  double  sense  (1)  with  sors  it  =  in  mentem  veniret  (cf.  3,  31 


226  NOTES 

subit  recordatio) ;  (2)  with  lacrimae  et  misericordia  it  =  came  over, 
etc.  (cf.  1,  13  curam  subisse;  37  horror  animum  subit).  —  tot  milia: 
the  traditional  figure  was  40,000,  no  doubt  exaggerated;  cf.  Dio 
64,  10.  —  laetus  ultro:  cf.  on  1,  7  ultra.  Suet.  Vit.  10  adds  his 
disgusting  remark  (probably  apocryphal):  optime  olere  occisumhos- 
tem,et  melius  civem.  —  propinquae  sortis  ignarus:  cf.  on  laeta  and 
perniciem,  above. 

71.  exin  =  exinde.  —  Bononia:    cf.  on  53.  —  spectaculum :     cf. 
67.  —  cultu  =  properties,   esp.   accouterments   of  the    gladiators. 

—  propinquabat  =  appropinquabat;     cf.    Intr.     17.  —  corruptius: 
i.e.  there  was  no  pretense  of  discipline;   cf.  11  fin.    corruptum  luxu 
iter.  —  ingenio:    a  collective  term  for  familiar  figures  or  features 
(ingenium  =  natura). —  cantantem:  i.e.    on  his  singing  tours.— 
luxu:    dat.;   so  senatu,  Ann.  1,   10;   commeatu,  ib.  12,  62  fin.,  etc. 

—  saginae:    cf.  1,  62  temulentus  et  sagina  gravis. — mancipatus: 
the  figure  is  from  the  formal  transfer  of  a  slave,  etc.,  to  the  new 
owner;    cf.  Cic.  Cato  M.  38  si  nemini  mancipata  est  [sc.  senectus]; 
Hor.  Epod.  9,  12  Romanus  .  .  .  emancipates  feminae.  —  vacuos: 
proleptic.     For  the  changes  made  by  Vitellius  cf.  on  1,  77  ceteri 
consulatus. — menses:   Sept.   and   Oct.  —  dissimulatus  =  ignored; 
cf.  82  dissimulans.  —  Martius  Macer :  cf.  on  23.  —  P.  Valerius  Mari- 
nus:    nothing  more  is  certainly  known  of  him  than  that  he  was 
an  Arval  in  this  year;    cf.  CIL.  VI,  2051,  53,  62,  etc. — mitem: 
the  expected  causal  clause  is  condensed  into  a  description  of  the 
man;    so  ingratus  below.     For  the  inconcinnity  cf.  Intr.   13.  — 
ausus  .  .  .  extimulator :    cf.  Intr.  ib.;    ausus  is  absol.,  as  in  25 
fin.  unde  rursus  ausi.  —  consuetudine  servitii:    cf.   1,  90  fin.  ex 
libidine  servitii.     Similarly  Agricola  was  obliged  to  thank  Domi- 
tian  for  refusing  him  the  proconsulship  of  Asia  or  Africa,  Agr. 
42.     Under  Nero  every  execution  or  exile  was  followed  by  a  vote 
of  thanks  to  the  gods,  Ann.  14,  64  fin. 

72.  quanquam:     with    coeptum;     cf.    on    1,    43    quanquam.— 
Scribonianus  Camerinus:    perhaps  a  son  of  M.  Licinius  Crassus 
Frugi,  cos.  64,  who  was  brother  of  Piso;   cf.  on    1,  48  Crassum. 
The  wife  of  Crassus  was  Sulpicia  Praetextata,  to  whose  family 
Scribonianus  owed  his  cognomen;    cf.  4,  42.  —  Histria:    modern 
Istria.  —  in  argumentum  fabulae:    i.e.  to  help  him  in  bringing 
out  his  comedy;    argumentum  =  mise  en  scene  (also  plot).  —  veri 


BOOK  II  227 

=  as  to  the  fact,  obj.  gen.  of  an  unusual  type;  cf.  59  adpulsu 
litoris;  1,  46  vulgi  largitione;  4,  49  indiligentia  veri.  —  cum  per- 
tractus:  sc.  est;  for  the  cum  inversum  cf.  on  1,  29  cum  adfertur.  — 
postquam:  cf.  Intr.  24.  —  servilem:  slaves  were  crucified  after 
suffering  torture;  cf.  on  1,  46  fin. 

73.  vix  credibile,  etc.:    this  chapter  forms  an  effective  transi- 
tion to  the  story  of  Vespasian's  rise  to  power,  just  when  Vitel- 
lius'  fears  from  that  quarter  have  been  silenced.  —  speculator es: 
cf.  on  1,  24  speculatori;  they  had  been  sent  by  Mucianus  (Antioch) 
and  Vespasian  (Caesarea).  —  etsi:   with  abl.  abs.;   found  even  in 
Caesar  (e.g.  B.  C.  1,  67,  5).     Cf.  on  1,  83  quanquam  (with  circum- 
stantial abl.).  —  vagis,  etc.:    cf.  1,  34  vagus  primum  et  incertus 
rumor.  —  ad:    cf.  on  8  ad  celebritatem  nominis.  —  ut:  cf.  1,  4  ut 
erga  principem   novum.  —  externos:  i.e.  Oriental  luxury  and  de- 
pravity.—  proruperant:  pluperf.  of  prompt  action;    cf.  on  5  fin. 
aboleverat. 

74-86.  Vespasian,  laying  aside  his  hesitation  and  encouraged 
by  Mucianus,  declares  himself  against  Vitellius,  and  is  proclaimed 
emperor,  first  at  Alexandria,  then  at  Caesarea.  Preparations  for 
another  civil  war. 

74.  bellum  armaque:    cf.  Agr.  30  proelium  atque-urma;   above> 
1  arma  Vitellii  bellumque,  where,  however,  arma  may  have  a  dif- 
ferent sense.  —  circumspectabat:   cf.  6  vires  suas  circumspicere.  — 
praeeuntem:    cf.  on  1,  36  praeire.  —  fausta  .  .  .  omnia:    cf.  4,  49 
laeta     Pisoni    omnia    tanquam    principi    continuare.     Vespasian 
naturally  used  the  familiar  formulas  wishing  all  prosperity  to 
Vitellius,  beginning  quod  bonum  faustum  felixque  sit.  —  Mucianus: 
cf.  on  1,  10.  —  in  Titum:    cf.  5  fin.  —  praefectus  Aegypti:    cf.  on 
1,  11;   it  was  a  post  more  important  than  many  of  the  proconsul- 
ships;    yet  only  knights  were  eligible.  —  Tiberius  Alexander:    cf. 
on  1,  11.     It  was  he  who  first  proclaimed  Vespasian  emperor;   cf. 
79.  —  sociaverat:   i.e.  with  Vespasian.  —  tertiam  legionem:   cf.  on 
1,  79  tertia  legio;  it  was  the  first  of  the  legions  in  Illyricum  to  side 
with  Vespasian;    cf.  below,  85.  —  ceterae:    cf.  on  1,  9  Illyrico. — 
secuturae  sperabantur:    the  personal  constr.  of  pass,  verbs  with 
nom.  and  infin.  (or  infin.)  is  very  much  extended  by  Tac.  and  other 
prose  writers  of  the  period;   cf.  on  1,  50  crederetur;   Ann.  3,  8  fin. 
neque   dubitabantur    praescripta    (esse);     16,    17    additur  .  .  .  ita 


228  NOTES 

scripsisse.  —  flammaverat:  trans.  =  inflammaverat;  cf.  Intr.  17. 
—  mole  belli:  the  point  is  here  the  colossal  scale  of  the  war;  in 
a  different  sense  1,  61  fin.  tota  mole  belli.  —  modo  .  .  .  aliquando: 
cf.  51  modo  .  .  .  nunc.  —  sexaginta:  he  completed  his  60th  year 
on  the  next  17th  Nov.,  having  been  born  five  years  before  the 
death  of  Augustus  (Suet.  Vesp.  2).  —  progressum:  i.e.  an  advance 
by  successive  steps  at  discretion,  whereas  the  aspirant  for  empire 
may  not  pause;  for  him  it  is  a  single  leap.  Some  editors  insert 
esse  regressum  to  balance  the  thought. 

75.  viro  militari:    cf.  Agr.  41  tot  militares  viri;   on  his  military 
career  in  Germany  and  Britain  cf.  on  1,  10;   Suet.  Vesp.  4.  —  bello 
inexpertas:    cf.  1,  8  bellis  inexpertus;    Agr.  41  expertum  bellis  ani- 
mum.  —  quid  .  .  .  profuturas:    cf.   on   1,  50  ituros.  —  praesenti: 
i.e.  requiring  no  careful  preparation,  executed  on  the    spot.  — 
diverse:  for  diversus  as  applied  to  a  rival  party  cf.  34  euro,  diversa 
sciscitandi;    3,  5  maiore  ex  diver  so  mercede.  —  sic  ...  sic:    the 
first  example  illustrates  facinore,  the  second   praemium.  —  Scri- 
bonianus:   cf.  on  1,  89.  —  ad  summa  militiae :  Tac.  probably  means 
nothing  higher  than  the  rank  of  a  centurio  primi  pili,  the  ordi- 
nary limit  of  promotion  for  one  who  had  risen  from  the  ranks. 

76.  pavoribus:     cf.    on    13   iras.  —  cor  am  =  publicly;    in   this 
mg.   coram    appears  first  in   the   Augustan   poets,    e.g.    Aen.    1, 
520;   Hor.  C.  3,  6,  29;    cf.  Ann.  6,  8  quae  coram  habentur,  and  13, 
25  fin.  coram  prospectans  (the  only  other  examples  in  Tac.).  — 
omnes,  qui,  etc.:    the  opening  sentence  is  very  similar  to  that  of 
a  passage  in  Sallust,  —  a  letter  of  Mithridates  (Hist.  4,  fr.  69 
M) :  Omnes,  qui  secundis  rebus  suis  ad  belli  societatem  orantur,  con- 
siderare  debent,  liceatne   turn    pacem  agere;    dein,  quod  quaesitur, 
satisne  pium  tutum,  gloriosum  an  indecorum  sit.     But  the  resem- 
blance may  be  due  to  rhetorical  scheme,  rather  than  to  direct  imi- 
tation.—  promptum  effectu:   cf.  1,  87  fin.  facillimum  factu.  —  ar- 
duum:    cf.  on  1,  85  arduus.  —  ipse  .  .  .  considerandus  est:    the 
personal  constr.  by  prolepsis  adds  emphasis  to  the  necessity  of 
judging  the  adviser's  motives.     Out  of  the  personal  the  imper- 
sonal considerandum  est  must  be  supplied  with  the  next  question. 
In  the  active  voice  prolepsis  of  this  kind  was  very  frequent  in 
conversational  Latin;    in  the  passive  it  is  rare;    cf.  Hor.  C.  4,  14, 
17  spectandus  .  .  .  quantis  fatigaret  minis;    Ov.  Met.  6,  208  an 


BOOK  II  229 

dea  sim,  dubitor.  —  quam  salutare:  elliptical  ind.  quest,  depend- 
ing on  what  follows;  cf.  1,  29  quo  .  .  .  fato,  in  vestra  manu  post- 
turn  est.  —  nee  =  neve;  cf.  on  1,  84  nee.  —  a  .  .  .  propius:  cf.  1, 
10  prope  ab  exule.  —  longo  =  diuturno;  cf.  on  1,  5  longo. — 
Galbae:  Otho  is  calmly  ignored.  —  abiit,  etc.  =  is  past  and  gone.  — 
transvectum  =  exactum;  cf.  Agr.  18  transvecta  aestas.  —  posses 
videri:  this  phrase  (esp.  freq.  in  law  Latin)  gives  the  commonly 
accepted  interpretation  of  an  act,  a  term,  etc.,  —  it  does  not  refer 
to  mere  appearances.  Cf.  Agr.  13  potest  videri  ostendisse  posteris, 
non  tradidisse.  —  concupisse:  Vespasian's  ambition  must  have 
been  quite  generally  known  even  before  the  death  of  Galba  (cf. 
5);  but  the  r61e  of  a  pretender  has  now  become  impossible,  since 
the  death  of  Otho  has  freed  Vitellius'  hands  to  dispose  of  an- 
other rival.  —  excidit:  sc.  memoria.  —  trucidatus:  for  the  use  of 
the  ptcp.  cf.  Intr.  11.  —  Cn.  Domitius  Corbulo:  the  most  illustri- 
ous of  Nero's  generals;  but  having  aroused  his  master's  jealousy, 
he  was  forced  to  commit  suicide  in  67  (Dio  63,  17).  He  was  a 
brother  of  Caesonia,  wife  of  Caligula;  legatus  of  Lower  Germany 
in  47;  proconsul  of  Asia  under  Claudius;  legatus  of  Cappadocia 
and  Galatia;  then  of  Syria;  then  of  Cappadocia  again;  best 
known  for  his  various  Armenian  campaigns,  57-66;  cf.  Ann. 
13-15  passim;  11,  18  ff.;  Hist.  3,  6;  Dio  60,  30;  62,  19  ff.;  Plin. 
N.  H.  2,  72;  6,  23.  —  natalium  =  generis  or  originis;  cf.  on  1,  49 
natalium.  —  Galbae  odio:  for  the  adversative  asyndeton  cf.  on  1, 
83  nimia  pietas.  —  ne  .  .  .  quidem:  the  negation  is  limited  to 
duds  arte  .  .  .  victum,  —  even  Otho,  who  was  not  beaten  by,  etc. 
—  exarmat:  cf.  67.  —  principis  imitatione:  cf.  68.  —  novem:  3  in 
Syria,  1  Syrian  legion  now  in  Moesia,  3  in  Judaea,  2  in  Egypt; 
cf.  on  1,  10,  11.  —  extern!:  i.e.  the  bellum  ludaicum;  cf.  4.  —  clas- 
sium,  etc.:  cf.  4  fin.  —  reges:  cf.  81.  —  ante  omnis:  the  attributive 
position  (cf.  on  15  iuxta)  shows  that  this  is  equivalent  to  qua  omnis 
antecedis.  More  normal  is  the  use  of  the  phrase  in  such  expressions 
as  rex  ante  omnes  maestus  (Curt.  6,  6,  19);  anteomnes  insignis  (Livy 
41,  4,  6).  Cicero  would  have  said  praeter  ceteros. 

77.  nobis:  i.e.  myself;  cf.  in  Piso's  speech,  1,  30  nihil  adrogabo 
mihi.  —  triumphale :  Vespasian  had  not  indeed  received  a  tri- 
umph for  his  exploits  in  the  conquest  of  Britain  in  43;  but  while 
his  superior,  Aulus  Plautius,  was  honored  with  an  ovation,  Ves- 


230  NOTES 

pasian  was  awarded  the  triumphalia  ornamenta;  cf.  78;  Suet. 
Vesp.  4.  —  capax:  cf.  1  maturam  petendis  honoribus  iuventam. — 
apud  Germanicos,  etc.:  for  Titus'  career  cf.  on  1,  10;  Suet.  Tit. 
4  tribunus  militum  et  in  Germania  et  in  Britannia  meruit,  etc.  — 
rerum:  for  the  gen.  cf.  next  note.  —  ordo  =  relations,  relative 
position;  cf.  Plaut.  Trin.  451  mearum  .  .  .  rerum  .  .  .  ordinem. 

—  vincimus:    the  present,  in  the  midst  of  futures,  adds  a  note  of 
confidence;   cf.  Sail.  Cat.  58,  9  si  vincimus,  omnia  nobis  tuta  erunt, 
etc.  —  discrimen  .  .  .  patiemur :     the  expression    is    so  unusual 
that  many  have  preferred  to  read  partiemur  (Puteolanus),  which 
gives  a  phrase  hardly  less  difficult  to  parallel.     It  is  more  like 
Tacitus  not  to  repeat  in  the  verb  the  idea  of  sharing  already  sug- 
gested in  ex  aequo.     For  patiemur  an  illustration  is  cited  from 
Livy  26,    13,    8   ultima   pericula  .  .  .  perpessi.  —  ex  aequo:     cf. 
Germ.  36  fin.  adversarum  rerum  ex  aequo  socii  sunt;    cf.  below  97; 
Agr.  20  fin.  —  immo  =  or  rather.  —  tu:   must  be  restored  on  ac- 
count of  the  antithesis;    cf.  3,  2  fin.  vos  .  .  .  legiones  continete: 
mihi,   etc.  —  tuos:     emphasizing   Vespasian's    right  to  the  chief 
command  of  all  the  armies,  while  Mucianus  is  to  lead  the  expedi- 
tion against  Vitellius.  —  hos  .  .  .  illi:    the  pronouns  reflect  the 
feeling  of  expected  friendship  with  the  victi,  and  inevitable  hos- 
tility towards  the  victores.  —  per  fastidium,  etc.:     cf.  Intr.  13. — • 
aperiet,  etc.:  for  the  fullness  of  language  in  this  pass.  cf.    Intr.  14. 

—  contecta:    the  comparison  is  with  wounds  which  have     closed 
once,  only  to  resume  suppuration.  —  vigilantia,    etc.:     cf.   5. — 
parsimonia:    naturally  in  a  complimentary  sense,    as  in  Agr.  4, 
where  Tac.  commends  the  provincialis  parsimonia  of  Massilia.  — 
torpore:    cf.  1,  62  torpebat   Vitellius;    2,  99  Caecinae  .  .  .  torpor 
recens.  —  inscitia:    cf.    on  1,  1  inscitia. —  saevitia:    instances  are 
given  in  64,  70.  —  qui  deliberant,  desciverunt:     cf.   Intr.  27;    a 
similar  thought  less  pointedly  expressed,   Agr.  15  fin.  iam  ipsos 
.  .  .  deliberare.      Porro  in  eius   modi   consiliis    periculosius   esse 
deprehendi  quam  audere;   cf.  Plut.  Galba  4  fin. 

78.  respoma  vatum:  cf.  1,  10  fin.  responsis,  etc.;  2,  4;  Suet. 
Vesp.  5.  —  Seleucus:  Suet,  mentions  a  Seleucus  mathematicus  in 
connection  with  Otho,  —  the  same  person  whom  Tac.  calls  Ptole- 
maeus  (1,  22;  Suet.  Otho  4,  6).  An  evident  confusion  on  the 
part  of  Suet.  For  the  mathematici  cf.  on  1,  22  mathematicis.  — 


BOOK  II  231 

rectorem  =  as  his  adviser.  —  vetera  omina:  detailed  by  Suet. 
Vesp.  5.  —  laetior:  cf.  Suet.  I.e.  arbor  quoque  cupressus  in  agro 
avito  sine  ulla  vi  tempestatis  evulsa  radicitus  atque  prostrata,  inse- 
quenti  die  viridior  ac  firmior  resurrexit.  The  Ms.  latior  is  incom- 
patible with  the  shape  of  a  cypress.  —  triumphalia:  cf.  on  77 
triumphale.  —  consulatus:  in  Nov.  and  Dec.  51;  cf.  Suet.  Vesp. 
4.  —  inter:  this  position  of  a  dissyllabic  preposition  between 
coordinated  substantives  is  very  rare  before  Tac.;  cf.  Livy  22,  3, 
3  Faesulas  inter  Arretiumque;  a  disputed  example  in  Caes.  B.  C. 

3,  6,  3.     Cf.   Hist.  3,  19  (super);    4,  77  (inter);    5,  8  (penes);    5, 
19  (inter).  —  Carmelus:   the  mountain  extends  in  a  northwesterly 
direction,  forming  a  great  promontory  25  miles  north  of  Caesarea. 
—  tradidere:   i.e.  there  never  had  been  a  temple  or  an  image. — 
ara,  etc.:    adversative  asyndeton;    cf.  on  1,  83  nimia  pietas. — 
reverentia:    cf.  Germ.  9  fin.  deorumque  nominibus  appellant  secre- 
tum  illud,  quod  sola  reverentia  vident.  —  Basilides:    in  itself  an 
auspicious  name.     Another  man  of  the  same  name  at  Alexandria, 

4,  82.  —  quidquid,  etc. :    cf .  Suet.  Vesp.  5  apud  ludaeam  Carmeli 
dei  oraculum  consulentem   ita  confirmavere  sortes,  ut  quidquid  cogi- 
taret  volveretque  animo,   quamlibet  magnum,  id  esse  proventurum 
pollicerentur.  —  extruere:  here,  as  in  3,  72  of  the  later  stages  of  con- 
struction or  adornment,  as  the  building  (there  the  Capitol)  ap- 
proaches completion.     Thus  marbles  for  decoration  are  marmora 
ad  exstructionem  domus  (Dig.  30,  41,  4).  —  aperiebat:  i.e.  they  now 
found  the  key,  cf.   Ann.    11,  34  aperire  ambages  et  veri  copiam 
facere.  —  quanto;   for  the  omission  of  tanto  cf.  on  1,  88  quanta. — 
Antiochia  =  Antioch,  on  the  Orontes;    about  300  m.p.  north  of 
Caesarea.  —  Caesarea:  on  the  coast;   named  by  Herod  the  Great 
in  honor  of  Augustus;    earlier  known  as  Turris  Stratonis.     From 
the  Jewish  standpoint  it  was  not  ludaeae  caput  (cf.  5,  8  Hieroso- 
lyma  genti  caput).  —  ilia  .  .  .  hoc:   Tac.  often  neglects  the  usual 
attraction  to  the  gender  of  the  pred. ;  cf.  1,  49  quod  segnitia  erat; 
here  he  first  neglects,  and  then  observes,  the  older  rule. 

79.  initium,  etc.:  cf.  1,  39  initio  .  .  .  orto.  —  Tiberius  Alexan- 
der:   cf.  74.  —  legiones:  cf.  on  1,  11  copias.  —  quamvis  .  .  .  iu- 
rasset:     cf.   on   59  quamvis.  —  ludaicus  exercitus:    cf.  on   1,   10 
legionibus.  —  Syria:  for  the  abl.  alone  cf.  on  62  Italia. 

80.  quaeritur:    i.e.  by  Vespasian's  friends.  —  spes  timor,  etc.: 


232  NOTES 

cf.  on  1,  3  fin.  laeta  tristia;  2,  26  fugientes  occursantes. — ratio: 
cf.  19  rationem  ostendens.  —  salutaturi:  evidently  the  usual  morn- 
ing salute.  — Caesarem:  i.e.  the  title  of  Caesar,  depending  directly 
upon  cumulare.  Others  understand  a  case  of  zeugma,  and  supply 
vocare,  or  salutare. —  mens:  esp.  of  those  to  whom  dum 
quaeritur,  etc.,  above  refers.  —  fortunam:  pregnant  for  confidence 
of  success.  —  transierat:  the  instantaneous  pluperf. ;  cf.  on  5  fin. 
aboleverat.  —  aut:  cf.  on  1,  51  fin.  et.  —  caliginem  =  dizziness. 
Livy  has  it  in  the  literal  sense,  of  men  climbing  scaling  ladders 
at  the  siege  of  New  Carthage:  cum  altitudo  caliginem  oculis  offudis- 
set,  26,  45,  3;  of  a  wounded  man  Curt.  9,  5,  28  caligine  oculis 
offusa.  Tac.  may  have  had  in  mind  the  Livy  pass.;  but  the 
expression  can  hardly  have  been  of  Livy's  coining.  —  laeta  omnia: 
cf.  3,  54  cum  .  .  .  laeta  omnia  fingeret;  Ann.  1,  42  fin.  laeta  omnia 
aliis  e  provinciis  audienti;  11,  15  et  laeta  quidem  in  praesens  omnia. 
—  affluentia:  there  was  nothing  but  good  news,  and  abundance 
of  it;  cf.  1,  57  fin.  ex  affluenti.  It  would  be  several  days  before 
he  could  learn  that  he  had  been  proclaimed  at  Antioch  also.  — 
id  ipsum:  i.e.  the  first  news  that  the  troops  at  Caesarea  had 
hailed  Vespasian  imperator,  —  received  perhaps  three  days  after 
the  event.  —  ubi  illis,  etc. :  as  Antioch  was  a  Greek  city,  the  cus- 
tom of  using  the  theater  for  public  assemblies  prevailed.  So 
Timoleon  veniebat  ...  in  theatrum  (at  Syracuse),  cum  ibi  con- 
cilium populi  haberetur,  Nep.  Tim.  4.  —  arte  quadam  ostentator: 
in  this  oft-quoted  characterization,  Tac.  is  probably  condensing 
what  Livy  says  of  Africanus,  —  non  veris  tantum  virtutibus  mira- 
bilis,  sed  arte  quoque  quadam  ab  iuventa  in  ostentationem  earum 
compositus  (26,  19,  3).  Or  he  may  have  recalled  Livy's  judgment 
of  Romulus, — cum  factis  vir  magnificus  turn  factorum  ostentator 
haud  minor  (1,  10,  5).  —  nihil  aeque:  the  omission  of  sed  (cf.  84 
sed  nihil  aeque)  shows  that  Mucianus  first  made  his  statement 
in  regard  to  the  transfer  of  the  legions  at  this  assembly.  —  legioni- 
bus:  for  the  dat.  cf.  on  1,  11  procuratoribus.  —  mutarentur:  Suet, 
speaks  of  a  rumor  dissipatus,  destinasse  victorem  Vitellium  permit- 
tare  hiberna  legionum  et  Germanicas  transferre  in  Orientem  ad  secu- 
riorem  mollioremque  militiam  (Vesp.  6  fin.). — militibus:  cf.  on 
legionibus,  above. 
81.  Sohaemus:  cf.  on  4  fin.  reges.  Before  his  transfer  to  So- 


BOOK  ii  233 

phene,  in  54,  he  had  been  prince  of  Emesa,  on  the  upper  Orontes,  in 
Syria;  Ann.  13,  7;  Hist.  5,  1;  Joseph.  Ant.  20,  8,  4;  B.  I.  7,  7,  1. 
— baud  spernendis  viribus:  as  in  58.  —  Antiochus:  cf.  on  4  fin. 
reges;  Ann.  I.e.;  12,  55;  14,  26  fin.;  Joseph.  B.  I.  I.e.;  etc.  On 
the  asyndeton,  cf.  on  1,  13  Vinium  .  .  .  Laconem. — M.  lulius 
Agrippa  =  Herodes  Agrippa  II ;  cf .  on  2  Berenices,  and  on  4  fin. 
reges.  On  the  death  of  his  uncle,  Herod  of  Chalcis,  in  48,  he  re- 
ceived that  kingdom;  but  in  53  Claudius  gave  him  in  exchange 
the  districts  known  as  Batanaea,  Trachonitis,  Abila,  and  Gaulanitis, 
while  Nero  added  parts  of  Galilee  and  Peraea.  He  had  gone  with 
Titus  on  the  errand  mentioned  above,  1 ;  but  when  Titus  turned 
back  from  Corinth,  Herod  went  on  to  Rome.  Cf.  Joseph.  Ant. 
20,  5,  2;  ib.  7,1;  8,  4;  4,  9,  2;  B.  I.  2,  12,  1  and  8;  ib.  13,  2; 
18,9;  Acts  25-26. — Berenice:  cf .  on  2.  —  inennes:  this  does  not 
exclude  auxiliaries  or  militia;  cf.  1,  11  fin.  inermes  provinciae. — 
legionibus:  Cappadocia  became  a  province  under  Tiberius,  in  17, 
but  was  governed  by  procurators,  until  Vespasian,  propter  adsiduos 
barbarorum  incursus,  assigned  two  legions  (XII  Fulminata,  XV 
Apollinaris)  to  the  province,  and  a  legatus  consularis;  Suet.  Vesp. 
8;  Ann.  2,  42;  Dio  57,  17  fin.  —  summa  rerum  =  whole  situation; 
cf.  3,  50  de  summa  rerum  cunctantes;  a  different  mg.  above,  33. 

—  Berytus  =  Beirut,  on  the  coast  of  Phoenice,  north  of  Sidon; 
made  a  colony  by  Augustus;   it  became  in  late  Roman  times  an 
educational  center,  especially  for  students  of  the  Roman  law.  — 
splendissimo :  referring  to  their  "  decorations,"  i.e.  phalerae,  torques, 
and  other  dona  mUitaria;  cf.  89  fin.  —  decora:   cf.  on  1,  84  decora; 
Intr.  15.  —  paratus  =  apparatus,  as  in  59  principali  paratu. 

82.  revocare:  i.e.  ad  signa,  or  ad  arma.  —  signatur:  some  of 
these  coins  appear  to  have  been  preserved;  cf.  Eckhel  Doctr. 
Num.  VI,  320.  —  bonos,  etc.:  cf.  Agr.  21  hortari  .  .  .  adiuvare 
.  .  .  laudando  promptos  et  castigando  segnes.  —  dissimulans:  cf. 
71  dissimulatus.  —  praefecturis:  in  the  auxiliaries  or  the  cavalry. 

—  procurationibus:    cf.  on  1,  2  fin.  procurationes.  —  summa:   i.e. 
high  offices,  esp.  governorships  of  important  provinces.  —  for- 
tuna:  wealth  and  rank  were  their  only  recommendation.  —  neque 
...  ne  ...  quidem:     unusual    correlation,    to   emphasize    the 
second  member;   cf .  Germ.  7  and  44  fin.  neque  .  .  .  neque  .  .  .  ne 
.  .  .  quidem;    ib.    37    non  .  .  .  non  .  .  .  non  ...  ne  ...  qui- 


234  NOTES 

dem.  —  alii  in  pace:  while  Sulla,  Caesar,  Octavian,  etc.,  had  given 
donatives  to  their  armies  in  war  time,  Tiberius  did  the  same  upon 
his  accession,  but  under  the  will  of  Augustus.  Caligula  imitated  his 
example.  With  Claudius  for  the  first  time  a  donative  seemed  to 
be  the  price  paid  for  the  throne.  Nero,  of  course,  followed  the 
precedent.  Vespasian's  donative  was  small,  —  only  25  denarii. 
Cf.  Suet.  Aug.  101;  Claud.  10  fin.;  Ann.  1,  8;  12,  41,  69;  Dio  65, 
22  fin.  —  firmus,  etc.:  cf.  1,  35  fin.  adversus  blandientes  incor- 
ruptus. — militarem:  equiv.  to  obj.  gen.  militum;  cf.  1,  46  vulgi 
largitione.  — -exercitu  meliore:  abl.  qual.,  —  a  general  is  known  by 
the  army  he  keeps;  cf.  Nepos,  Eum.  3  fin.  peditatu,  quo  erat  dete- 
riore.  —  obtinere  =  hold;  cf.  next  note.  —  claustra  Aegypti:  i.e. 
Alexandria,  on  the  west  side  of  the  delta,  and  Pelusium  on  the  east. 
Vespasian's  object  was  not  so  much  a  strong  position  in  impreg- 
nable Egypt,  as  the  opportunity  to  secure  its  revenues,  and  to 
hold  back  the  grain  supply  upon  which  Rome  depended  for  its 
daily  bread;  cf.  3,  8  Aegyptus,  claustra  annonae,  etc.;  Suet.  Vesp.  7 
ducibus  copiisque  in  Italiam  praemissis,  interim  Alexandriam  trans- 
iit,  ut  claustra  Aegypti  optineret.  Cf.  3,  48  fin.  where  Vespasian 
plans  to  cut  off  another  source  of  the  annona  by  invading  Africa 
also.  —  nihil  arduum  fatis  =  the  fact  (or  the  belief)  that  nothing,  etc.; 
cf.  Intr.  11.  —  arduum:  cf.  on  1,  85  arduus.  —  reciperandae  mili- 
tiae:  best  taken  as  dat.  of  the  end.  The  praemium  was  to  be  more 
substantial  than  mere  restoration  to  the  service.  Cf.  67. 

83.  agens:  cf.  1,  30  ageret,  etc.  —  gliscere:  cf.  on  8  fin.  glis- 
centem.  —  vires:  he  takes  with  him  but  one  complete  legion,  and 
probably  a  detachment  from  each  of  the  five  remaining  in  Syria 
and  Judaea.  But  he  also  counts  upon  large  reinforcements  from 
the  Danube  legions,  especially  III  Gallica,  now  in  Moesia,  but 
formerly  in  Syria;  cf.  74;  1,79.  —  tredecim  .  .  .  milia:  this  num- 
ber is  reasonably  assumed  to  represent  five  detachments  of  2600 
each.  Cf .  57,  where  three  legions  contribute  8000.  —  vexilla- 
riorum:  cf.  on  1,  31  fin.  vexilla.  —  classem:  in  reality  not  the  whole 
fleet,  but  lectissimas  Liburnicarum  omnemque  militem  (i.e.  marines), 
3,  47.  —  ambiguus  consilii:  cf.  on  46  consilii  certus;  Ann.  1,  7 
ambiguus  imperandi.  —  num:  cf.  on  37  num.  —  Moesia:  cf.  on  1, 
79  Moesia.  He  did  decide  upon  this  route,  up  the  Hebrus,  the 
Margus,  Danube,  and  Save  (or  Drave),  and  so  to  Aquileia  at  the 


BOOK  ii  235 

head  of  the  Adriatic.  Thus  naval  warfare  was  eliminated  from 
the  conflict.  —  Dyrrachium:  in  the  province  of  Macedonia,  on  the 
coast,  opposite  Brundisium;  western  terminus  of  one  of  the  most 
important  roads  in  the  empire,  the  Via  Egnatia  (the  over-sea  con- 
tinuation of  the  Appia),  leading  to  Thessalonica  and  Byzantium. 
In  Greek  times  Epidarnnus,  now  Durazzo.  —  clauderet:  zeugma; 
supply  peteret  or  occuparet  with  Dyrrachium.  —  exponi:  cf.  on  30 
expositos.  —  in  incerto:  cf.  on  1,  37  in  incerto. 

84.  strepere:     cf.    62   strepentibus   ab   utroque  mari  itineribus; 
Livy  26,  51,7  urbs  ipsa  strepebat  apparatu  belli  fabris  .  .  .  in  pub- 
lica  officina  indusis. — fatigabat:  the  obj.  is  readily  supplied  from 
provinciae.  —  nervos:    the  familiar  proverb;  cf.  Cic.   Phil.  5,  5; 
Imp.    Pomp.    17;     Plut.    Cleom.    27.  —  verum  =  actual  fact;  the 
charges  brought  by  the  delatores  were  often  groundless;    others 
understand  it  in  the  sense  of  equity.  —  passim  delationes:  cf.  1,  20 
ubique  hasta  et  sector;   1,  65  multae  in  vicem  clades.     Tac.'s  Roman 
readers  probably  did  not  take  the  trouble  to  supply  a  verb.  — 
quisque  .  .  .  correpti:  for  the  plur.  after  quisque  cf.  on  1,  35  nimii 
verbis. —  optinendas:    in    place   of    its    ordinary   mg.     maintain, 
the  verb  here  has  the  sense  of  carry  out,  carry  through,  as  in  Ann.  3, 
52  fin.  indecorum  adtrectare,  quod  non  obtineret.  —  baud  perinde  = 
haud  ita;  cf.  Germ.  5  haud  perinde  adficiuntur.     The  comparison  is 
merely  implied.  — magistris:    cf.  63  inrepentibus  dominationis  ma- 
gistris.  —  didicit:  opinions  differed  as  to  whether  Vespasian  was 
naturally  miserly  (natura  cupidissimus)  or  forced  into  extortion 
by  the  needs  of  the  treasury  (summa  aerarii  fiscique  inopia,  Suet. 
Vesp.  16;    cf.  ib.  23).  —  quo  .  .  .  sumeret:    purpose  clause;    his 
generous  contributions  were  not  without  the  hope  of  ample  re- 
turns.—  in  reciperando:  the  abl.  constr.  enables  Tac.  to  avoid 
another  long  gen.  gerundive;  euphony,  rather  than  variety,  is  the 
motive. 

85.  tertia:  cf .  on  83  vires.  —  octava:  i.e.  Augusta.  —  Claudiana: 
the  name  is  added  to  distinguish  it  from  VII  Galbiana,  in  Pannonia; 
cf .  86.     It  had  been  loyal  to  Claudius  in  the  revolt  of  Scribonianus 
in  Dalmatia  (cf.  75;    1,  89).  —  inbutae:    cf.  1,  5  longo  Caesarum 
sacramento     inbutus.  —  quamvis  .  .  .  interfuissent:      cf.     on     59 
quamvis.  —  Aquileia:    cf.  46  fin.  —  de  Othone:    they  refused  to 
believe  him  dead.  —  vexillis:    i.e.  they  encountered  only  detach- 


236  NOTES 

ments  of  the  Vitellian  legions;  cf.  on  1,  31  fin.  vexilla.  —  ex  metu 
consilium:  according  to  Suet.,  who  gives  (Vesp.  6)  a  more  detailed 
account  of  these  doings  at  Aquileia  in  April,  they  planned  to  create 
an  emperor  for  themselves,  and  (after  rejecting  the  names  of  va- 
rious other  consular  legates)  at  the  instance  of  some  men  of  the 
Hid  legion  (then  in  Moesia),  they  preferred  Vespasian,  nomenque 
eius  vexillis  omnibus  sine  mora  inscripserunt.  But  the  mutiny  was 
suppressed  for  the  time  being.  —  inputari:  i.e.  could  be  set  down 
to  their  credit  with  Vespasian;  cf.  1,  38  quis  mihi  plurimum  in- 
putet.  —  Pannonicum  exercitum:  i.e.  the  XIHth  Gemina  and  VHth 
Galbiana;  cf.  86.  —  abnuenti:  conditional.  —  Aponius  Saturninus: 
cf.  on  1,  79;  below,  96.  —  rector:  cf.  1,  59  fin.  Lugudunensis 
Galliae  rector.  —  Tettius  lulianus:  cf.  on  1,  79  fin.  —  avia  Moesiae: 
cf.  4,  70  avia  Belgarum;  Ann.  13,  37  avia  Armeniae.  —  deinde:  cf. 
on  50  deinde.  —  cunctabundus,  etc.:  cf.  83  init. 

86.  tertia  decuma:  stationed  at  Poetovio,  now  Pettau,  on  the 
Drave,  in  Styria;  cf.  3, 1.  They  had  returned  to  their  old  quarters 
after  building  the  amphitheaters  at  Cremona  and  Bononia;  cf.  67. 

—  septima  Galbiana:  the  Hispana  of  1,  6,  q.v.  —  M.  Antonius  Pri- 
mus: a  Gaul,  born  at  Tolosa  (Toulouse);  the  leading  figure  in  Book 
3,  as  the  most  active  of  the  Flavian  generals.     In  his  later  days  a 
friend  of  the  poet  Martial.     Cf .  Suet.  Vit.  18;   Mart.  9,  99;   10,  23 
and  32;    Hist.  3,  2  et  passim;  4,  2,  4;  etc.  —  falsi  damnatus:  it  was 
a  case  of  witnessing  a  forged  will,  in  the  year  61;   cf.  Ann.  14,  40. 
The  penalty  was  deportation  and  loss  of  all  property  for  the  prin- 
cipal (Dig.  48,  10,  1,  13),  while  the  false  witness  might  get  off  with 
ejection  from  the  senate  (Paul.  5, 15,  5).  —  inter  alia,  etc.:  resem- 
bling an  appositive  phrase  (cf.  1,  62  laetum  augurium) ,  or  instead  of 
an  appositive  clause,  quod  fuit  inter  alia  belli  mala.  —  in  nullo  .  .  . 
usu,  etc.:    i.e.  found  no  employment.     Of  course  he  retained  his 
command.  —  momentum:   cf.  1,  59  grande  momentum.  —  strenuus, 
etc.:  observe  the  rhetorical  form  of  this  portrait  of  Antonius,  esp. 
its  antitheses.  —  artifex  =  a  master.  —  iuncti:  in  the  fig.  mg.  only 
as  yet,  —  having  reached  an  agreement.  —  Delmaticum  militem:  i.e. 
the  Xlth  Claudia;  for  the  XlVth  Gemina  Martia  Victrix  (cf .  on  1,  9 
Illyrico;  2,  11  quartadecumani)  had  returned  to  its  former  station  in 
Britain;    cf.  66  fin.,  86  fin.  —  quanquam:    cf.  on  1,  43  quanquam. 

—  L.  Tampius  Flavianus:  twice  consul  suffectus  (ca.  46  and  74,  or 


BOOK  ii  237 

after);  procos.  of  Africa  and  then  legatus  of  Pannonia;  cf.  Plin.  N. 
H.  9,  26;  Hist.  3,  4,  10.  —  M.  Pompeius  Silvanus:  cos.  suff.  in  45, 
and  again  ca.  74  with  Tampius  Flavianus;  procos.  of  Africa,  and 
then  accused  by  the  provincials,  58,  but  acquitted  by  Nero;  legatus 
of  Dalmatia,  09-70;  cf.  Ann.  13,  52;  Hist.  3,  50.  —  tenebant:  cf. 
on  30  inridebant.  —  Cornelius  Fuscus:  procurator  of  Pannonia; 
presently  admiral  of  the  Ravenna  fleet;  under  Domitian  pracfectus 
praetorio,  until  he  lost  his  life  in  the  disaster  of  the  2d  Dacian  ex- 
pedition, in  86;  cf.  3,  4,  12,  etc.;  Suet.  Dom.  6;  Mart.  6,  76; 
Juv.  4,  111.  —  natalibus:  cf.  on  1,  49  natalium. —  quaestus  cupi- 
dine:  both  law  and  custom  forbade  a  senator  to  engage  in  trade;  cf. 
Livy,  21,  63,  4  quaestus  omnis  patribus  indecorus  visus.  It  was 
more  profitable  to  become  a  procurator;  cf.  Ann.  16,  17  adquirendae 
pecuniae  brevius  iter  credebat  per  procurationes  administrandis  prin- 
cipis  negotiis  (of  Mela,  brother  of  Seneca).  —  If  the  Ms.  quietis  is 
correct  (which  is  highly  improbable),  then  prima  and  idem  are 
emphatic.  —  coloniae:  it  is  not  known  to  what  town  this  refers. — 
facem:  cf.  fiagrabat,  below.  In  English  we  should  more  naturally 
say  he  was  the  chief  firebrand.  —  aegrum  =  rotten,  weak,  i.e.  dis- 
affected.—  adgrediuntur:  i.e.  Antonius  and  Fuscus. —  quarta- 
decumanos :  cf .  66  fin.  —  primanos:  the  classicorum  legio,  now  known 
as  I  Adiutrix;  cf.  67.  —  secuturis:  cf.  on  32  inrupturis;  Intr.  7. 

87-101.  Vitellius  and  his  army  reach  Rome.  His  administra- 
tion, more  contemptible  than  ever,  under  the  control  of  Valens  and 
Caecina,  87-95.  News  of  the  uprising  under  Vespasian,  and  prep- 
arations for  the  impending  conflict,  96-101. 

87.  contemptior  in  dies:  cf.  73  fin.,  the  point  at  which  the  nar- 
rative is  here  resumed.  —  ad  omnis  .  .  .  amoenitates  =  at  every 
attractive  town  and  villa.  —  resistens  =  consistens.  —  gravi  .  .  . 
agmine:  cf.  1,  70  fin.  —  calonum:  cf.  on  1,  49  calories. — lixarum: 
cf .  ib.  lixas;  they  were  free,  but  acted  insolently,  even  in  compari- 
son with  (inter}  the  slaves.  —  modestia  =  discipline;  cf.  on  1,  52 
modesti.  —  regetur:  the  tense  is  that  of  a  general  truth,  narrative 
being  abandoned  for  general  observation ;  cf .  92  nee  umquam  satis 
fida  potentia,  etc.  Most  editors  emend  to  regeretur.  —  metu  .  .  . 
per  adulationem;  cf.  Intr.  13.  —  cogniti:  viz.  at  the  court  of  Nero; 
cf.  71.  —  amicitiarum  dehonestamentis  =  scandalous  friendships; 
the  genitive  is  epexegetic.  —  aut:  in  a  negative  statement  aut 


238  NOTES 

often  stands  where  et  would  be  used  in  an  affirmative  statement; 
cf .  1,  63  non  ob  praedam  aut  spoliandi  cupidine,  sed  furore  et  rabie.  — 
cultores  .  .  .  vastabantur:  cf.  on  16  vastatos. 

88.  seditionem:   cf.  68.  —  paganos:  cf.  on  1,  53  fin.  paganos.  — 
foret  =  esset;  cf.  21;  for  the  iterative  subjv.  cf.  on  1,  10  vacaret.  — 
consensu:  the  abl.  abs.  trails  loosely  after  manente  (with  zeugma, 
for  lack  of  a  pres.  ptcp.  of  esse);  the  whole  is  equivalent  to  a  cum- 
clause.  —  ad  septimum:  on  the  Via  Flaminia,  in  the  Tiber  meadows, 
about  two  m.p.  nearer  than  Saxa  Rubra,  and  the  well-known  villa 
of  the  Empress  Livia  (Prima  Porta;    cf.  3,  79).     The  distance  is 
from  the  Servian  gate  at  the  foot  of  the  Capitoline  (Via  Lata).  — 
saginam:  cf.  1,  62  sagina  gravis.  —  vernacula  .  .  .  urbanitate:  i.e. 
it  was  only  a  practical  joke;  vernacula  has  its  special  mg.  city- 
born,  metropolitan;    cf.  Petron.  24  hominem  acutum  atque  urbani- 
tatis  vernaculae  fontem.     So  in  Ann.  1,  31  recruits  from  the  city  are 
vernacula  multitudo;  cf.  Dial.  28  de  urbe  et  his  propriis  ac  vernaculis 
vitiis.  —  balteis:    cf.  on  1,  57  fin.  balteos.  —  an:    silver  Latin  for 
num;    cf.  Ann.  2,  9  quaesitoque  an  Caesar  venisset;    Hist.  4,  86 
fidem  .  .  .  temptavisse,  an.  —  forent  =  essent,  cf.  above,  foret.  — 
Galba:  in  their  own  eyes  the  soldiers  of  Vitellius  were  the  avengers 
of  Galba,  forgetting  that  they  had  at  first  revolted  from  him.  — 
ipsi:  i.e.  the  German  auxiliaries.  —  tergis:  for  class,  pellibus;  so  in 
Ann.  15,  44  the  Christians  areferarum  tergis  contecti.    But  Germ.  17 
gerunt  et  ferarum  pelles.  —  inscitiam  =  awkwardness;    cf.  on  1,  1 
inscitia.  —  lubrico  viae:   cf.  1,  79  lubrico  itinerum.  —  terrore  et  .  .  . 
catervis:    hendiadys,  the  feeling  produced  and  the  means  of  its 
production. 

89.  ponteMulvio:  cf .  1,  87. — deterritus:  at  some  point  between 
the  Pons  Mulvius  and  the  Campus  Martius  he  yields  to  persuasion, 
and  gives  up  his  plan  of  a  triumphal  entry.  —  praetexta:   in  place 
of  the  military  paludamentum.  —  quattuor  legionum :  viz.  the  three 
that  had  accompanied  Valens  (I  Italica,  V  Alaudae)  and  Caecina 
(XXI  Rapax),  and  that  of  which  the  main  body  must  have  come 
with  Vitellius  (XXII    Primigenia') ;    cf.  1,  61,  64;    2,  100.     Tac. 
was  perhaps  an  eye-witness  of  this  scene.  —  aquilae:  i.e.  legions 
with  their  eagles;    so  vexilla  and  signa,  below.  —  per  frontem  = 
at  the  head  of  the  column;  usually  applied  to  an  acies,  not  often  to 
an  agmen  (but  cf.  Ann.  12, 16).  —  totidem:  Tac.  overlooks  the  three 


BOOK  ii  239 

rexilla  from  Britain,  mentioned  in  100.  —circa:  forming  parallel 
columns,  but  probably  in  close  order,  not  as  at  the  entry  of  the 
Flavians,  3,  82. — legionibus  aliis:  i.e.  I  Germanica,  IV  Mace- 
donica,  XV  Primigenia,  XVI  Gallica;  cf.  100.  —  alarum:  of  cavalry. 
—  et :  epexegetic,  that  is;  cf.  on  10  iactatum.  —  peditum  .  .  .  eques: 
Intr.  13.  —  forent  =  essent;  cf.  on  88  foret;  for  the  subjv.  cf.  on  1, 
10  vacaret.  —  praefecti:  cf.  on  26  praefectus  castrorum.  —  phalerae: 
cf.  on  1,  57  fin.  phaleras.  —  torques:  not  worn  as  collars,  but  hang- 
ing down  over  the  breast,  like  the  phalerae.  —  facies:  cf.  42  non 
una  pugnae  facies;  1,  85  facies  belli.  —  matrem:  cf.  64. 

90.  alterius:  often  used  in  preference  to  allus;  for  the  sense  cf. 
1,  45  alium  crederes  senatum,  alium  populum.  —  somno:    fig.  for 
desidia,    ignavia.  —  vacuum    curis  =  unconcerned,    thoughtless.  — 
August!:    cf.  1,  47  nomen  Augusti  et  omnes  principum  honores. — 
frustra:  with  reference  to  his  impending  fate;  for  the  hint  of  ap- 
proaching   catastrophe  cf.  48  fin.,  59  fin.  —  recusaverat:    more 
exactly,  he  had  only    postponed;    cf.  62  edictum,  quo  vocabulum 
Augusti  differret. 

91.  funesti  ominis  loco :    a  common  use  of  loco  in  place  of  a 
predicate;     cf.    4,   26   prodigii  loco  accipiebatur.  —  XV  kalendas 
Augustas:    cf.  Livy  6,  1,  11  diemque  a.d.  XV  kal.  Sextiles,  duplici 
clade  insignem,  quo  die  ad  Cremeram  Fabii  caesi,  quo  deinde  ad 
Aliam  cum  exitio  urbis  foede  pugnatum,  a  posteriore  clade  Alien- 
sem  appellarunt  insignemque  religione  rei  ullius  publice  privatim- 
que  agendae  fecerunt.  —  Cremerensi:    the  slaughter  of  the  Fabii 
by  the  Etruscans,  477  B.C.;    Livy  2,  50.  —  Alliensi:   at  the  hands 
of  the  Gauls,  390;   Livy  5,  38.  —  cladibus:  Cic.  would  have  written 
clade;    cf.  1,  18  quartam  et  duoetvicensimam  legiones.  —  comitia 
consulum:    the  arrangements  Vitellius  had  already  made  (cf.  71) 
required  formal  ratification  by  the  senate  under  the  transparent 
guise  of  an  election.     Tiberius  had  transferred  the  elections  to 
the  senate  (Ann.  1,  15),  but  the  assembly  met  to  hear  the  formal 
renuntiatio  of   those  who  had  been  elected;    cf.  Abbott,  Roman 
Political  Institutions,  §  503.  —  emitter,   etc.:  he  wished  to  give 
the  impression  that  the  old-time  freedom  had  in  part  returned. 
In  reality  the  emperor's  commendatio  of  his  candidati  was  deci- 
sive;   cf.   Abbott,   §§   331,   416.  —  fautor:    i.e.   he  favored    that 
faction  which  happened  to  be  most  popular.     They  were  dis- 


240  NOTES 

tinguished  by  colors,  —  white,  red,  blue,  green,  i.e.  albata,  rus- 
sata,  veneta,  prasina,  respectively.  —  consulerentur :  cf.  on  1,  10 
vacaret.  —  Helvidius  Priscus :  a  well-known  member  of  the  op- 
position, born  in  Samnium,  son  of  a  first  centurion,  son-in-law  of 
Thrasea  (v.  below),  commander  of  a  legion  in  Syria,  51,  tribunus 
plebis,  56;  relegated  by  Nero  in  66,  he  returned  under  Galba; 
was  relegated  again  and  put  to  death  by  Vespasian.  Tac.  gives  a 
portrait  of  him  in  4,  5  f.;  cf.  Ann.  12,  49;  13,  28;  16,  33;  Suet. 
Vesp.  15.  —  non  .  .  .  ultra  quatn  =  tantum;  no  verb  need  be 
supplied,  for,  while  originally  elliptical,  the  combination  has  come 
to  be  treated  as  an  adverb,  i.e.  =  tantummodo;  so  quid  aliud 
quam,  non  aliud  quam,  nihil  aliud  quam  (Thesaurus  I,  1634,  34  ff.), 
nihil  amplius  quam;  cf.  Ann.  4,  34;  13,  40  fin.;  15,  13;  an  idiom 
freq.  in  Livy,  e.g.  27,  18,  11  nihil  aliud  quam  via  impediti. — 
potestatis:  sc.  tribuniciae,  one  of  the  most  important  of  the 
powers  conferred  upon  the  emperor;  cf.  on  55  cuncta. — re  pub- 
lica  =  affair  of  state.  —  P.  Clodius  Thrasea  Paetus:  from  Patavium, 
cos.  suff .  in  56;  son-in-law  of  Caecina  Paetus  (a  victim  of  Claudius)  ; 
father-in-law  of  Helvidius  Priscus;  himself  also  a  steadfast  op- 
ponent of  the  emperors  and  a  Stoic;  forced  to  suicide  in  66;  cf. 
Ann.  16,  21  ff.;  14,  12,  48  f. 

92.  Publilius  Sabinus:  nothing  further  is  known  about  him, 
except  his  deposition  a  few  months  later,  3,  36  fin.  —  Julius  Pris- 
cus: cf.  3,  55,  61  fin.;  his  suicide,  4,  11  fin.  For  the  asyndeton 
with  names  cf.  on  1,  13  Vinium  .  .  .  Laconem.  Both  were 
eccentric  promotions.  —  pollebant:  cf.  on  30  inridebant.  —  inter: 
cf.  on  1,  1  inter  infensos.  —  olim:  cf.  on  1,  60  olim.  —  fecunda 
gignendis  inimicitiis :  for  the  abl.  cf.  1,  51  fin.  fecunda  rumoribus; 
Ann.  13,  57  flumen  gignendo  sale  fecundum.  —  et:  cf.  on  1,  51 
fin.  et.  —  salutantium:  i.e.  at  the  morning  call.  —  potentia:  cf.  on 
1,  1  potentiam.  —  aut:  equivalent  here  to  modo  .  .  .  modo.  — 
nobilium  turba:  Nero's  exiles;  cf.  Otho's  ineffectual  measures  for 
their  relief,  1,  90  (empty  honors,  1,  77).  —  gratum:  cf.  95  laetum 
.  .  .  quod.  —  adprobavit:  translate  by  a  passive.  —  iura  liber- 
torum  =  iura  patronatus,  the  various  rights  which  the  patron  had 
over  his  freedman.  Exile  extinguished  such  rights.  For  an  im- 
poverished patron  the  most  important  of  these  were  (1)  the 
privilege  of  support  at  the  expense  of  the  freedman,  if  the  latter 


BOOK  II  241 

had  means;  (2)  the  right  to  one-half  the  property  of  the  f reed- 
man,  if  he  died  childless.  Cf.  Dig.  25,  3,  5,  19  ff.;  37,  14,  21; 
Inst.  3,  7,  1.  —  servilia  ingenia:  meaning  freedmen;  so  servorum 
manus  1,  7.  —  corrumpebant  =  inritum  faciebant.  —  occultos: 
i.e.  of  obscure,  and  hence  unsuspected,  persons.  —  ambitiosos: 
i.e.  of  very  influential  persons,  into  whose  good  graces  the  freed- 
men had  wormed  themselves  per  ambitionem.  —  sinus:  the  figure 
is  from  the  folds  of  the  toga.  —  in  domum  Caesaris,  etc. :  by  nam- 
ing the  emperor  their  patron.  For  an  example  of  a  powerful 
libertus  Caesaris  cf.  Galba's  Icelus,  1,  13,  37  fin.,  46  fin.;  cf.  95. 

93.  castris:    the  permanent    camp  of  the  praetorians;    cf.  on 
1,  17  castris.     There  were  other  barracks  (perhaps  included  here) 
for  the  cohortes  urbanae,  vigiles,  etc.  —  porticibus,  etc.:    cf.  1,  31. 

—  principia:  i.e.  they  had  no  rallying  place,  as  in  the  principia 
of  a  camp,  —  the  central  part  of  the  via  principalis,  and  an  open 
space  before  the  praetorium.  Cf.  3,  13  recurrens  in  principal 
miles.  —  imminuebant:  zeugma,  resulting  from  the  antithesis 
corpus  .  .  .  animum.  —  infamibus:  i.e.  notoriously  unhealthy. 
The  ancient  reputation  of  the  Vatican  still  remains.  For  the 
adj.  cf.  Hor.  C.  1,  3,  20  infamis  scopulos  Acroceraunia;  Livy  21, 
31,  8  infames  frigoribus  Alpes.  —  tetendit:  cf.  on  1,  31  tendentes. 

—  in  vulgus:   cf.  on  15  iuxta.  —  obnoaia  =  exposed,  as  being  not 
yet  acclimated.     Suetonius  Paulinus  had  predicted  this  result,  32. 

—  ordo  militiae  =  the  service,  with  its  rules  and  conventions;    cf. 
1,  38  sine  more  et  ordine  militiae.  —  sedecim:  a  temporary  enlarge- 
ment, in  place  of  the  usual  nine  (though  Nero  had  twelve,  CIL.  V, 
7003).     It  was  not  continued  by  Vespasian.     For  the  dismissal  of 
the  old  praetorians  cf.  67;  for  Vespasian's  nine  cf.  CIL.  Ill,  p.  853. 

—  quattuor:  only  three  had  heretofore  been  stationed  in  the  city; 
cf.  on  1,  20  fin.  urbanis.    Vespasian  had  four  such  cohorts,  CIL.  I.e. 

—  scribebantur :  cf.  Intr.  17. —  tanquam,  etc.:  cf.  on  1,  8  tanquam 
.  .  .  fovissent.  —  periculo:    for  the  dat.  cf.  on  1,  59  perieulo;  for 
the  occasion  cf.  25  ff.  —  fluitasse:  Caecina  presently  abandons  the 
cause  of  Vitellius;   cf.  100  f.;   3,  9,  13  ff. 

94.  militiam:    i.e.  arm  of  the  service.  —  urbanae  militiae:    in- 
cluding praetorians  and  cohortes  urbanae  under  a  single  term;   so 
1,  4  f.  urbanum  militem,  and  miles  urbanus.  —  alares:  i.e.  auxiliary 
cavalry.     The  extraordinary  privilege  of  being  enrolled  in  the 


242  NOTES 

urbana  militia  was  not  extended  to  the  auxiliary  infantry;  cf. 
legionibus  alisque,  below.  —  castrorum:  sc.  praetor ianorum;  by 
meton.  for  service  among  the  praetorians.  —  decus:  it  had  pre- 
viously been  a  hard-earned  honor  to  serve  in  the  guard.  —  con- 
tionante:  i.e.  from  the  tribunal  at  the  camp.  —  pro  Vindice:  cf 
on  1,  6  fin.  —  super:  cf.  on  1,  8  super.  —  donativum:  cf.  1,  5; 
18  fin.  —  principum:  possibly  Claudius,  certainly  Nero,  Galba, 
Otho,  probably  Vitellius.  —  ut  tributum:  these  exactions  from  the 
freedmen  no  doubt  won  popular  favor  for  Vitellius.  —  perdendi : 
cf.  1,  30  perdere  iste  sciet  (of  Otho);  37  quod  Polycliti  .  .  .  per- 
diderunt.  —  cura:  ironical.  —  inludere:  cf.  Ann.  15,  42  viribus 
principis  inludere;  Sail.  Cat.  13,  2  quibus  mihi  videntur  ludibrio 
fuisse  divitiae. 

95.  natalem  .  .  .  diem:  the  24th  Sept.  (or  according  to  others 
the  7th);  cf.  Suet.  Vit.  3.  He  was  born  15  A.D.  —  vicatim:  a 
vicus  was  a  street,  with  the  narrower  streets  or  alleys  opening 
into  it,  including  the  houses,  —  hence  equivalent  to  precinct;  e.g. 
Vicus  Tuscus,  Vicus  Longus,  Vicus  Patricius.  —  laetum:  cf.  92 
gratum  .  .  .  quod,  etc.  —  in  campo  Martio :  the  tomb  of  Nero 
(the  family  tomb  of  the  Domitii)  was  on  the  Pincio  (Collis  Hor- 
torum),  but  visible  from  the  Campus  Martius;  cf.  Suet.'s  descrip- 
tion, Nero  50.  —  inferias  Neroni:  cf.  Suet.  Vit.  11  et  ne  cui  dubium 
foret,  quod  exemplar  regendae  rei  publicae  eligeret,  media  Martio 
campo  adhibita  publicorum  sacerdotum  frequentia  inferias  Neroni 
dedit.  —  Augustales:  i.e.  sodales  Augustales,  established  by  Ti- 
berius soon  after  the  death  of  Augustus.  There  were  at  first  21 
regular  sodales,  and  four  representatives  of  the  imperial  family. 
They  had  at  Bovillae,  on  the  Appian  Way,  near  Mt.  Alba,  a  shrine 
which  had  long  been  associated  with  the  ancestor  worship  of  the 
gens  lulia;  cf.  Ann.  1,  54  (quoted  below);  2,  41;  CIL.  VI,  1985  ff. 
(1986  is  of  the  year  69).  —  ut  Romulus  Tatio:  sc.  sacerdotium; 
but  in  place  of  this  more  indefinite  object,  it  is  not  unlikely  that 
Titios,  the  proper  designation,  stood  in  the  original  text  (after  Rom- 
ulus); cf.  Ann.  1,  54  addito  sodalium  Augustalium  sacerdotio,  ut 
quondam  T.  Tatius  retinendis  Sabinorum  sacris  sodales  Titios  in- 
stituerat,  —  a  passage  which  represents  a  different  legend  as  to 
the  foundation  and  purpose  of  the  Titii.  —  nondum  .  .  .  et:  an 
imitation  of  Vergilian  narration,  with  much  the  same  effect  as 


BOOK  n  243 

that  of  a  cum  inversum  (cf.  on  1,  29  cum  adfertur);  of.  1,  37  sep- 
tem  .  .  .  menses  sunt,  et  iam,  etc.;  Aen.  2,  692  vix  ea  fatus  erat 
senior,  subitoque  fragore  \  intonuit,  etc. ;  5,  857  vix  .  .  .  laxaverat 
artus,  |  et,  etc. ;  Georg.  2,  80  nee  longum  tempus,  et,  etc.  —  quar- 
tus:  in  reality  quintus.  —  Asiaticus:  cf.  on  57.  —  Polyclitos:  for 
the  typical  plural  cf.  on  1,  37  Polycliti;  and  below,  Vinios  Fabios, 
etc.  —  Patrobius:  cf.  1,  49.  —  et:  cf.  on  1,  51  fin.  et.  —  odiorum: 
abstr.  for  concr.;  cf.  Intr.  15.  —  prodigis  epulis:  cf.  62  epularum 
foeda  et  inexplebilis  libido;  Suet.  Vit.  13.  —  sumptu  ganeaque: 
the  hendiadys  balances  the  preceding  adj.  +  noun;  Intr.  13. — 
abunde:  sc.  esse;  the  adv.  serves  as  pred.;  cf.  97  fin.  contra  fuit; 
1,  75  frustra  fuit.  —  noviens  miliens:  sc.  centena  milia;  900  million 
sesterces  =  ca.  47  million  dollars.  —  paucissimis:  i.e.  April  to 
Dec.  —  sagina:  cf.  71;  on  1,  62  sagina.  —  Othonem  Vitellium: 
i.e.  an  Otho,  a  Vitellius;  for  the  asyndeton  cf.  on  1,  13  Vinium 
.  .  .  Laconem.  —  inter:  cf.  on  1,  1  inter  infensos.  —  Vinius: 
Galba's  colleague,  1,  1,  etc.  —  Fabius:  i.e.  Valens,  1,  7,  etc. — 
Icelus:  Galba's  freedman,  cf.  1,  13.  The  freedmen  are  paired 
together.  —  Marcellus:  cf.  on  53. 

96.  tertiae  legionis:    in  Moesia;  cf.  85.  —  Aponius  Saturninus: 
legatus  of  that   province;   cf.   85.  —  epistulis:    cf.  on  1,  67  epis- 
tulis.  —  mollius:    cf.  1,  12  quo  seditio  mollius  acciperetur.  —  con- 
stare  =  was  unshaken.  —  exauctoratos:    cf.  67.  —  insectatus:    for 
the  aoristic  use  of  the  perf.  ptcp.  cf.  Intr.  12.  —  vagis:    under 
orders,  of  course.     Translate  by  a  while-clause.     Cf.  Intr.  7.  — 
sennones,  etc.:  for  a  similar  attempt,  not  long  after,  to  suppress 
free  speech  cf.  3,  54.  —  alimentum,  etc.:    cf.  1,  17  fin.  male  coer- 
citam  famam  supprimentes  augebant, 

97.  -que:    the  class,  use,  to  pair  together  the  provinces  lying 
in  the  same  general  direction.     Naturally  Germania  includes  both 
Rhine  provinces.  —  segniter  et  .  .  .  dissimulans:    cf.  Intr.  13.  — 
Hordeonius  Flaccus:    cf.  on   1,  9.  —  bello:    the  uprising  under 
Civilis,  already  feared;    cf.  4,  12  ff.  —  Vettius  Bolanus:   cf.  on  65 
fin.  —  consular!:    sc.    legato.     Cluvius  Rufus  was  governing  the 
province  in  absentia;    cf.  65;    1,  8.  —  trium  legionum:    i.e.  VI 
Victrix,  X  Gemina,  I  Adiutrix;   the  last  had  been   sent   thither 
by   Vitellius;     cf.   67.  —  prosperis  .  .  .  rebus:   with   conditional 
force.  —  certaturi:   the  ptcp.  takes  the  place  of  a  relative  clause 


244  NOTES 

containing  the  apodosis.  For  another  silver  Latin  freedom  with 
the  fut.  ptcp.  cf.  on  32  inrupturis.  —  ad  obsequium:  cf.  35  ad 
proelia.  —  ex  aequo:  cf.  77  ex  aequo.  —  legio:  III  Augusta;  cf. 
on  1,  11  legio.  —  Clodius  Macer:  cf.  on  1,  7.  —  f avorabilem :  so 
an  oration  which  wins  applause  is  a  favorabilis  oratio  (Ann.  2, 
36  fin.).  —  famosum:  Suet.,  on  the  other  hand,  says  that  he 
governed  Africa  integerrime  nee  sine  magna  dignatione,  and  that 
he  returned  nihilo  opulentior,  Vesp.  4.  —  contra:  adverb  as  pred.; 
cf.  95  abunde. 

98.  C.  Calpetanus  Rantius   Quirinalis  Valerius  Festus,  related 
by  marriage  to  Vitellius;   legatus  pro  praetor e  exercitus  Africae,  — 
a  position  much  more  influential  than  that  of  the  ordinary  legatus 
legionis  (the  case  of  Macer,  above);   in  70  he  caused  the  murder 
of  the  proconsul,  L.  Piso;  in  71  cos.  suff.  with  Domitian;  governor 
of  Pannonia,  73,  and  Spain  (Tarraconensis),  79-80;    cf.  4,  49  f.; 
Plin.  Ep.  3,  7,  12;   best  known  from  inscriptions  in  Spain  and  at 
Trieste,  —  CIL.   II,    2477,    4802,    etc.;     V,    531.  — cum   fide  = 
loyally.  —  invaluissent :    representing  the  fut.  perf.  of  direct  dis- 
course.—  fefellere  =  escaped  unnoticed,  absolute;    cf.  3,  41  and 
5,  22  ad  fallendum;    Livy  10,  14,  6  non  fefellere  .  .  .  in  occulta 
valle  instructi.  —  socordia  .  .  .  dein:   cf.  on  5  dein.  —  Pannonicae 
Alpes:   not  a  separate  group  of  the  Alps,  but  merely  a  term  for 
the  passes  of  the  Julian  Alps.     The  main  route  led  from  Aquileia, 
northeasterly,  over  the  Alpis  lulia  (830  m.),  down  into  the  valley 
of  the  Save  at  Emona  (Laibach),  and  so  to  Poetovio  (Pettau).  — 
etesiarum:    according  to  Pliny  these  began  to  blow  on  the  20th 
July,  and  lasted  for  40  days  (N.H.  2,  124).  —  inde:    sc.  navi- 
gantibus. 

99.  inruptione:  the  abl.  (means)  is  with  exterritus;   others  make 
it  abl.  of  time,  and  nuntiis  means.  —  atrocibus,  etc.:    cf.   1,   51 
fin.  undique  atroces  nuntii.  —  expedire:    as  in  1,   10  and  88.— 
proficiscentis:     cf.   the   entry   into   the   city,    89.  —  species  .  .  . 
vigor  .  .  .  ardor:  for  the  style  of  this  pass.  cf.  Intr.  23.  —  rarum 

=  thinned,  open;  cf.  3,  25  rariore  iam  .  .  .  acie.  —  fluxa:  i.e. 
held  listlessly;  not  =  fracta;  for  it  is  too  much  to  assume  that 
battered  arms,  or  those  in  bad  order,  would  have  escaped  inspec- 
tion. Tac.  is  speaking  merely  of  physical  condition  and  its  effects. 

—  quantum  .  .  .  tanto:   for  a  similar  neglect  of  symmetry  cf.  on 


BOOK  II  245 

I,  14  fin.;   on  2,  11  tarditas.     Tac.  follows  Livy  in  this  balance  of 
a  positive  against  a  comparative  in  a  proportional  sentence.  — 
soluti  .  .  .  seu:   the  second  term  is  an  entire  clause;   cf.  Intr.  13; 
34  simulantes  .  .  .  ac  ne,  etc.  —  plerique:    i.e.  among  the  his- 
torians.—  Flavius  Sabinus:   cf.  on  1,  46;  2,55.  —  Rubrius  Gallus: 
cf.  on  51.  —  erga:   here  in  a  hostile  sense;   cf.  Ann.  2,  76  discor- 
diam  erga  Germanicum;    and  so  sometimes  in  Plaut.,  Ter.,  Nep. 
In  Cic.,  Caos.,  Sail,  it  always  denotes  a  friendly  relation. 

100.  Caecina:  the  date  of  his  departure  is  probably  about  the 
1st  Oct.  —  Cremona:  cf.  17,  22,  etc.  —  vexilla:  cf.  on  1,  31  fin. 
vexilla;  below,  vexillariis.  —  Britannicarum  legion um:  omitted 
in  the  enumeration  of  89,  q.v.;  they  were  II  Augusta,  IX  His- 
pana,  XX  Valeria  Victrix.  —  exercitui:  for  the  force  composing 
Valens'  expedition  cf.  1,  61,  64.  —  ductaverat:  ductare  exercitum 
was  regarded  as  obsolete  in  the  time  of  Quint.,  but  sanctioned 
by  the  usage  of  Sail,  and  Tac.;  cf.  Quint.  8,  3,  44;  Sail.  Cat. 

II,  5;   lug.   70,  2.  —  tota  mole:    cf.   1,  61   fin.  tola  mole  belli. 
—  legiones:    from  3,   14  fin.  we  learn  that  I  Italica  and  XXI 
Rapax  were  sent  to  Cremona.  —  pars:    in  reality  this  was  the 
larger  part  of  the  force.  —  Hostilia:    on  the  left  bank  of  the  Po, 
S.  E.  of  Mantua;    of  strategic  importance  also,  at  the  crossing  of 
the  Via  Postumia  (cf .  on  23  Bedriacum)  and  the  road  from  Bo- 
nonia  to  Verona.  —  Ravenna:   in  the  marshes,  south  of  the  Po 
delta;     station    of   the    fleet;     cf.    on    9    Misenensi.  —  Patavi: 
Patavium   (Padua)  lay  between  Verona  and  the  Adriatic;    the 
birthplace  of  Livy.  —  secretum:    cf.  on  4  secreto.  —  componendae 
proditionis:    the  gen.  constr.  limits  secretum,  and  indicates  the 
end  which  the  interview  was  expected  to  serve.     So  even  in  golden 
Latin;    e.g.  Caes.  B.  G.  4,  17,  10  naves  deiciendi  operis;   Cic.  Cato 
M.    84    commorandi  .  .  .  deversorium.     Silver    Latin    used   such 
phrases  more  freely,  even  attaching  them  directly  to  the  verb,  as 
a  substitute  for  the  purpose  clause;    cf.  4,  25  vinciri  iubet,  magis 
usurpandi  iuris,  quam  quia,  etc.;    Ann.  2,  59  Aegyptum  proficis- 
citur  cognoscendae  antiquitatis.  —  Sex.  Lucilius  Bassus:    cf.  3,  12, 
36,  40;  in  4,  3  he  once  more  appears  as  a  cavalry  officer.     There 
was  nothing  exceptional  in  his  commanding  a  fleet.     It  was  un- 
usual, however,  for  the  two  fleets  to  be  combined  under  one  prae- 
fectus.    Later  he  was  legatus  of  Judaea;   Joseph.  B.  I.  7,  6,  1,  6; 


246  NOTES 

7,  8,  1.  —  praefecturam  praetorii:  cf.  the  recent  promotion  of 
Publilius  Sabinus,  92.  —  foret  =  esset;  cf .  88.  —  iracundiam  .  .  . 
ulciscebatur:  Tac.  sarcastically  puts  the  subjective  feeling  in  the 
place  of  an  objective  injury.  —  quod  evenit,  etc.:  cf.  1,  39  utque 
evenit  in  consiliis  infelicibus;  56  quod  in  seditionibus  accidit,  etc. ; 
81  utque  evenit  inclinatis  ad  suspicionem  mentibus. 

101.  scriptores:  Pliny  the  Elder,  Vipstanus  Messalla,  and 
Cluvius  Rufus  are  the  most  obvious  sources  of  Tacitus  for  this 
period.  Pliny's  work  was  a  continuation  of  that  of  Aufidius 
Bassus,  and  hence  known  as  A  fine  Aufidi  Bassi  libri  XXXI; 
cf.  Plin.  Ep.  3,  5,  6;  Hist.  3,  28.  Vipstanus  Messalla  figured  in 
this  war  as  acting  commander  of  a  legion  —  the  Vllth  Claudiana; 
cf.  3,  9,  18,  25,  28.  Tac.  had  made  him  one  of  the  speakers  in 
the  Dialogus.  For  Cluvius  Rufus  cf.  on  1,  8. —  potiente  rerum: 
here  of  the  possession  of  power,  not  the  acquisition  of  it;  cf.  3, 
74  potiente  rerum  patre.  —  corruptas  .  .  .  causas:  causas  is  pred. 
appos.,  i.e.  as  the  reasons  (for  the  defection  of  Caecina  and  Bassus); 
but  instead  of  adding,  say  a  relative  clause,  to  show  that  these 
reasons  were  fictitious,  he  condenses  that  thought  into  a  phrase, 
corruptas  in  adulationem;  cf.  1,  1.  —  super:  cf.  on  1,  8  super. — 
ab  aliis:  meaning  esp.  Valens;  cf.  99  fin.  —  legiones:  at  Hostilia, 
on  his  arrival  from  Patavium.  —  subruebat:  of  the  abortive 
attempt  simply;  for  the  sequel  cf.  3,  13  f .  —  pro  Othone  militiae: 
cf.  14  ff.,  28.  The  second  book  ends,  as  the  first  had  ended,  with 
preparations  for  an  impending  conflict,  the  northward  march  of 
armies,  ill-prepared  in  both  cases,  for  a  struggle  which  was  to 
bring  another  usurper  to  the  throne. 


APPENDIX 


VARIATIONS  FROM  THE  TEXT  OF  HALM  * 
Halm  This  Edition 


1,  2,  6  omissa 

11  urbs 

3,  5  ipsa  necessitas 
6  tolerata 

9,  12  cunctatur 

10,  8  se 

11,  5  domui 

12,  2  a  (misprint) 

13,  2  et  dett. 

19  segnis  et,  donee  bellum 

fuit 

15,  24  blanditiae  et 
16,  9  e  (misprint) 
26,  4  Ian. 
31,  20  reverses 
33,  10  relanguescat 
35,  9  sistens 

37,  24  Tigellini 

38,  12  aperiri 

39,  4  f .  rediret  .  .  .  peteret 

41,  9  et 

42,  7  ictu 

43,  11  Statius 

12  trucidatus  est 

44,  13  honore 

48,  17  pro  consule 
49,  4  confixum  (misprint) 
53,  6  id  add.  Heinsius 

55,  10  et  (misprint) 

1  Fourth  edition,  Leipzig,  1883; 
ing  are  not  included. 


missa  Med. 

et  urbs  Med. 

omit  b 

toleratae  b 

cunctantur  Med.  (Andr.) 

omit 

domi  Med. 

e 

omit 

donee  bellum  fuit,  segnis  et  C. 

Her. 

blanditia  et  W.  Her. 
a 

omit 

rursus  Med. 

elanguescat  lac.  Gronov. 
resistens  Faernus 
Aegiali  (egialii  Med.) 
aperire  Med. 

redire  .  . .  petere  Med.  (Andr.) 
omit 

ictus  Meiser 

Staius  Klebs  (cf.  CIL.  IX,  3080) 
trucidatur  wig. 
honori  Nipp. 
proconsulatu  Med. 
suffixum 
omit 
ac 

reprinted  1907.    Differences  of  spell- 
247 


248 


APPENDIX 


57,  7  tertium 
60,  4  proruperat 
65,  16  relinquerentur 

67,  1  per  Caecinam  haustum 

68,  1  pericula  (misprint) 
13  iusto 

69,  7  ut  est 
ib.  et 

70,  6  exciti 

71,  10  ne    hostem    metueret, 

conciliationes 
72,  5  crudelitatem  mox 
74,  3  quietis  locum 

77,  16  Saevino  P  .  .  . 

78,  5  ostentui 

79,  3  [ad] 

4  novem 

83,  23  intercidit 

84,  6  hinc 

85,  1  apta 

87,  13  [immutatus] 

88,  6  expediri 


tertio  ed.  Spir. 

proruperant  Med.  (Andr.) 

relinquerent  Med.  (Andr.) 

Caecina  hausit  Med.  (Andr.) 

periculo 

infesto  (in  sto  Med.) 

Turn,  ut  est 

omit  Joh.  Muller 

acciti  a 

testes  mutuae  reconciliationis 

Nipp.  (but  prefixing  deos) 
mox  crudelitatem  dell, 
e  quietis  locis  Madv. 
Scaevinto  Propinquo  Andr. 
ostentata  Ernesti,  Andr.,  Her. 
transfer  to  novem 
ad  novem  Acidalius 
intercidet  Heinsius 
ut  Med.  (Andr.) 
omit 

immutatus  vulg. 
expedire  ab 


2, 1, 19  incerta  adhuc  victoria 
4,  3  consulit  (misprint) 
19  amor 

6,  2  pernicibus 

7,  2  bello  civili 
5  discordiam 

10,    5  delationem  (misprint) 

10  retinebatur 

ib.  adhuc  terror! 
12,   2  maiore  Italiae  parte 
14,  11  est 

ib.  acie 
17, 1  bellum,  quod 


incertam  adhuc  victoriam  dett. 

consuluit 

rubor  Andr. 

praecipitibus  Beroaldus 

bellorum  civilium  Ritter 

socordiam  Pluygers 

delationes 

retinebat  Med. 

aliquid  terroris  Jacob 

etiam  ora  Italiae 

et  Thomae 

acies  Thomae 

bellumque  Med, 


APPENDIX 


249 


20,  4  [barbarum  tegmen] 
21,  6  f .  retorta  ingerunt 

16  operibus 
22,  4  fluxu  (misprint) 
28,  10  [sanitas       sustentacu- 

lum] 

32,  2  qua 

35,  2  perlabebantur 
38,  18  redeo 

40,  2  sedecim 
46,  15  et  gemitus 
50,  1  Ferentino 
55,  2  cecidisse 
60,  1  interfecti  sunt 

64,  3  Interamnium 

65,  4  Hilarius 
12  hunc 

66,  12  exarsisset 

68,  5  proinde 

74, 14f.  esse  regressum  (C.  Her., 
Joh.  Mutt.) 

76,  4  inchoaturi 

77,  11  tu  hos 
78,  7  latior 
81,  3  inservientium 
83,  11  [sibi] 
87,  8  regeretur 
90,  2  ipso 
93,  8  aviditas 
9  labefecit 
ib.  insuper  confusus 
94,  12  inert! 

99,  2  expediri 
100,  13  proditioni 

19  [ut  et  similes  sint] 


omit 

paria  regerunt  Meiser 

omit 

fluxa 

omit 

quia  (Andr.) 

praelabebantur  Med. 

venio  Med.  (Andr.) 

XXV  (cf.  PAPA.  XL,  Ixiv  f.) 

vel  gemitus  W.  Her. 

Ferentio  Med. 

cessisse  Med. 

interfecti  vulg. 

Interamnam  Puteol.  (as  in  3, 

61) 

Hilarus  Andr. 
sed  Arruntium  #oo«e(Amintium 

Ritter) 

arsisset  Med. 
perinde  dett. 
omit 

incohatur      (inchoatur     Med., 

Andr.) 

tu  tuos  Th.  Kiessling 
laetior  Triller 
servientium  Novdk 
omit 

regetur  Med.  (Andr.) 
ipse  Ritter 
aviditate  Med. 
labefacta  Meiser 
confusus  insuper  Gerber 
omit  b*,  dett. 
expedire  Acidalius 
proditionis  Med. 
omit 


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